Risk Assessments
The methodology that underpins the majority of FSANZ’s regulatory decision making is the risk assessment component of risk analysis. This tool facilitates FSANZ’s science-based approach to decision making and is critical to the integrity and rigour of those decisions.
When FSANZ receives an application or proposal seeking approval to alter the food supply, a risk assessment is undertaken to determine the safety implications of the proposed action. Risk assessment is one facet of the overall Risk Analysis Process (see diagram below). This is an example of the process used for chemical risk assessments. Modified approaches are employed for assessments of a microbiological, nutritional, molecular biological or food technological nature. We draw on the key elements of risk assessment as adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
- Hazard Identification - In the first stage of risk assessment potential adverse effects from the chemical are assessed.
- Hazard Characterisation - In the second stage, the dose of the chemical that is a problem is determined, and reference health standards may be set.
- Exposure Evaluation - The third stage determines the amount of the chemical that populations may be exposed to from all sources, including the diet, water and the environment. This process is also called Dietary Modelling .
- Risk Characterisation - In the fourth stage, the estimated exposure is compared with the reference health standard for the particular food chemical.
Risk assessments are then used to make Risk Management decisions.
General Risk Analysis Process
