Have your say
In November 2019, the Australia New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation (the forum) endorsed a plan to reform the binational food regulation system to ensure it remains strong, robust, and agile into the future.
As part of the ambitious reform plan endorsed by the forum, a consultation paper entitled Aspirations for the food regulatory system has been released in Australia and New Zealand for submissions.
This work is specifically part of the first stage of the Review of the Intergovernmental Food Regulation Agreement, which is a food cooperation agreement between Australian jurisdictions only. The consultation paper should be read in this light. However, the work will also be of interest to New Zealand stakeholders as it will inform the collaborative food regulatory system reform work more broadly. As such, New Zealand stakeholders are invited to submit on this consultation.
Note: This work is separate from the consultation for the planned reform aiming to identify areas of inconsistency in food regulatory approaches across jurisdictions (jurisdictional consistency).
Find out about the jurisdiction consistency consultation
Making your submission
The consultation opened on 23 November 2020 and will close at midnight on 22 January 2021.
Information on the review and making submissions is on the Australian Department of Health’s consultation hub.
Aspirations for the food regulatory system – Department of Health (Australia)
Background to the wider review of the food regulation system
New Zealand and Australia have a unique shared regulatory system that sees us jointly developing food composition and labelling policy and standards. This is based on the 1995 Food Treaty with Australia and has led to joint initiatives, such as our Health Star Rating System.
In addition to the review of the Australian jurisdictions’ Food Regulation Agreement, 3 other projects are being progressed under the ambitious plan which collectively reform the binational food regulatory system.
The review of jurisdictional consistency across the binational food regulation system is currently underway.
Find out about the jurisdiction consistency consultation
Feedback has also been sought on a scoping paper for the FSANZ Act review. Submissions on the initial phase of that review closed on 16 November 2020.
Find out about the review of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991
Next steps
You can keep informed about future consultations on the Food Regulation Australia website:
Food regulation in Australia and New Zealand
Who to contact
If you have any questions about this consultation or the broader reform agenda, or if you wish to subscribe for updates, email FoodRegulationModernisation@health.gov.au
You may contact MPI directly with any questions on New Zealand’s role in the joint system, email transtasman@mpi.govt.nz
Find out more
Food Standards Australia New Zealand
Australia-New Zealand cooperation and the Food Treaty
Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 – Federal Register of Legislation (Australia)
