Food Surveillance Monitoring the food supply

FSANZ and other government agencies in Australia and New Zealand monitor the food supply to ensure that it is safe, and that foods comply with standards for microbiological contaminants, pesticide residue limits and chemical contamination. FSANZ has a Bi-National Surveillance and Enforcement Strategy which allows food/health agencies in Australia and New Zealand to discuss and share information about monitoring and surveillance of the food chain in Australia and New Zealand. FSANZ acts as the central point for collection of Food surveillance data from public health units in Australia and New Zealand. This data includes the results of general compliance testing, and specially targeted surveys conducted in the various jurisdictions.

Food surveys

• Australian Total Diet Study
  
• Report on a Survey of Chemical Residues in Domestic and Imported Aquacultured Fish  ( November 2005)

Food Surveillance Australia New Zealand  (Newsletter)

Food Surveillance Australia New Zealand, formerly FoodWatch, is an on-line newsletter published on the FSANZ website. It is an initiative of the Bi-national Food Surveillance and Enforcement Strategy Working Group.

Microbiological contaminants

FSANZ sets microbiological safety standards for foods. Dangerous microbiological contaminants may be introduced through poor food handling and storage practices, or foods may be contaminated through outside sources. 
FSANZ and other government agencies have recently acted on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or Mad Cow Disease; FSANZ has acted on Listeria in Food and the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease in Europe.  

Pesticide residues and chemical contaminants

The upper limit of a residue allowed in a treated food is known as the Maximum Residue Limit. Australia and New Zealand develop their own Maximum Residue Limits for agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food.

The FSANZ MRL Fact Sheet explains how these limits are determined. The actual MRLS for a range of pesticide residues and chemical contaminants are set out in the  Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code . Use of chemicals in farming practice is regulated by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).  

Imported foods

The Imported Foods Program (IFP ) is jointly run by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).

The program aims to ensure that any food imported into Australia is safe and complies with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code . FSANZ advises on food risk and AQIS inspects and samples imported foods.

Fact Sheet: Imported Food Program