On 15 April 2016, the Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC) agreed in-principle to trial ‘stakeholder roundtables’ (the Roundtables). The Roundtable is one of a number of initiatives adopted under FRSC’s communication strategy. The Roundtable is intended to provide FRSC and stakeholders an opportunity to strengthen relationships, share information, and improve awareness of policy development and other activities within the Food Regulatory System. In July 2016, FRSC hosted a facilitated workshop to test and refine the proposed purpose, membership, and draft terms of reference for the Roundtable. The workshop was attended by FRSC members, or their delegates, and senior stakeholders from a number of industry, public health and consumer groups comprising Choice, the Public Health Association of Australia, the Australian Food and Grocery Council, the New Zealand Food and Grocery Council, the Dietitians Association of Australia and Restaurant and Catering Australia. Food Standards Australia New Zealand also attended as did the Chair of the Strategic Planning Working Group. On 10 August 2016, FRSC agreed the final terms of reference, membership, and standardised agenda for the Roundtables, and agreed to proceed with three trial Roundtables before undertaking an evaluation. The first Roundtable was held in September 2016. Two more Roundtables were held in February and September 2017. The objective of the evaluation, which was undertaken between late 2017 and early 2018, was to consider what worked, and what can be improved, in the way the Roundtables are designed and delivered. The evaluation was informed by participants’ feedback. In May 2018, FRSC accepted the below Evaluation Report and agreed to implement all of its recommendations.
FRSC Stakeholder Roundtable Trial Evaluation Report - May 2018 (PDF 449 KB)
