Role
The role of the ISFR is to develop consistent ways of implementing and enforcing food standards across:
- Australia and New Zealand
- the different food regulation agencies
- imported, exported and locally produced food.
It does this as a subcommittee of the Food Regulation Standing Committee.
For more detail, view the terms of reference.
Members
ISFR members include:
- up to 2 representatives from New Zealand
- up to 2 representatives from each Australian state and territory
- one representative from each of the Australian Government departments responsible for health and agriculture
- one representative from Food Standards Australia New Zealand
- one representative from the Australian Local Government Association.
They are either heads of agencies or senior operational experts.
| Member | Jurisdiction | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Eva Bennet (Chair) | Independent | Independent |
| Dr Karen Krist | Australia | Department of Health, Disability and Ageing |
| Ms Tania Martin | Australia | Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry |
| Ms Jenny Bishop | New Zealand | Ministry for Primary Industries |
| Ms Lyndell Hudson | ACT | Health Directorate |
| Dr Craig Shadbolt | NSW | Food Authority |
| Dr David Cusack | NSW | Food Authority |
| Mr Stuart McLay | NT | Department of Health |
| Ms Tenille Fort | Qld | Department of Health |
| Mr Brian Witherspoon | Qld | Safe Food Production |
| Ms Karen Ferres | SA | Department of Health |
| Ms Sarah Spurling | SA | Department of Primary Industries and Regions |
| Ms Olivia While | Tas | Department of Health |
| Dr Saba Jahangiri | Tas | Department of Natural Resources and Environment |
| TBC | Vic | Department of Health |
| Mr Andrew Chen | Vic | Safe Food Victoria |
| Ms Kim Crawley | WA | Department of Health |
| Dr Matthew O'Mullane | n/a | Food Standards Australia New Zealand |
| TBC | n/a | Australian Local Government Association |
How they work
The members:
- consult with and support Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
- discuss common ways to implement standards
- develop agreed strategies for consistency
- monitor the safety of the food supply
- monitor compliance with food laws.
As part of their monitoring work, members:
- develop surveillance plans to identify and prioritise survey activities
- make their completed food survey reports available on the FSANZ website.
They have the authority to make and implement decisions about compliance and enforcement issues in their jurisdiction.
View the completed ISFR food surveys and the ISFR food survey plan on the FSANZ website.
Meetings
The ISFR meets as needed, usually 2 or 3 times each year.
The next ISFR meeting will be held on 1 and 2 September 2026.
Meeting outcomes
The ISFR releases meeting outcomes after each meeting.
Key documents
The ISFR develops guidance, fact sheets and other resources as part of its work.
Compliance, monitoring and enforcement guidance
Contact
If you have any queries, please contact the Food Regulation Secretariat.