Warren Truss

Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Senator Grant Tambling

Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Aged Care

3 November 2000

COAG Agreement Will Strengthen Food Safety

The signing today by the Prime Minister and all Australian Premiers and Chief Ministers of a new inter-governmental agreement on food regulation has paved the way for a more coordinated and effective approach to food safety in Australia and New Zealand.

Federal Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Warren Truss, and Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Aged Care Senator Grant Tambling, said the new agreement would mean important changes to Australia's food regulatory system.

'Today's agreement represents an important opportunity of ensuring all the key players crucial to maintaining public health and safety in this country are part of that system,' they said.

The agreement creates a new ministerial council comprising all health ministers from Australia and New Zealand as well as representation from other portfolios, such as agriculture or trade, if the Commonwealth, States/Territories or New Zealand decide to include these areas.

'The agreement specifies that the ministerial council will be chaired by the Federal Health Minister,' Senator Tambling said. 'Each jurisdiction will have only one vote and they must present a whole-of jurisdiction position regardless of what portfolio they represent. Public health and safety remains the number one objective.'

Mr Truss said the inclusion of other ministers on the council would help ensure its members take a broader and more strategic approach to food regulation policies.

The new agreement will also result in a new, independent statutory agency - Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). It will replace the Australia New Zealand Food Authority.

Under the council's guidance, FSANZ will provide scientific and technical expertise in the development of best practice food standards in Australia and New Zealand.

The Ministers said the new agreement would significantly streamline the process of developing food standards while at the same time retaining ministerial accountability and would provide for better consultation with industry, consumers and other stakeholders to ensure their interests and concerns are taken into account.

The agreement follows the recommendations of Dr Bill Blair in his Food Regulation Review Report released in 1998.