Monday 15 December 2003
FOOD STANDARDS AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND BOARD RELEASES STRATEGIC REVIEW REPORT
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today released the final report of its strategic review by independent consultant Alan Bansemer.
Chairman of the FSANZ Board, the Hon Rob Knowles, said that one of the Board’s priorities in 2003 has been to carry out this independent strategic review to better align the organisation within the new food regulatory system. The Review was undertaken in close collaboration with key stakeholders in Australia and New Zealand.
‘The consultancy has highlighted areas for further work and it has reinforced FSANZ’s key role in food regulation in Australia and New Zealand. In doing so, the report focuses on a new environment, new constituents, an ongoing need for emphasis on our scientific and technical capacity, and the challenges associated with a ‘paddock to plate’ approach in Australia.
‘We are also enhancing our capacity for service delivery in New Zealand through a larger staff base in Wellington and delivery of key standards functions from New Zealand.
‘The FSANZ Board have adopted the report and recommendations. FSANZ staff are now in the process of implementing the recommendations – we are working towards:
- Improving our stakeholder consultation and communication arrangements to ensure we better meet stakeholder needs.
- Further building on our scientific and technical competence and ensuring we effectively integrate our science based risk assessments with broader community and jurisdictional needs so our standards are better accepted.
- Improving our evidence base by collaborating with industry, jurisdictions and consumers on surveys and surveillance.
- Forging stronger links with international experts and other regulatory agencies.
- Working with the Australian states and territories and New Zealand to consider our role in the education of consumers in support of the public education objectives for our standards.
- And finally, we are making some internal management changes to ensure that we are well placed to deliver these outcomes.
‘We also need to reposition ourselves in relation to Asia where we already work closely with food regulators in the region. In late October 2003, FSANZ signed a memorandum of understanding with China to provide food safety training and assistance. I believe that this is recognition of widespread international respect for the food safety system in Australia and New Zealand.
‘We will have these new arrangements in place very quickly so that FSANZ will be better placed to face the many challenges of 2004 in ensuring safe food for Australians and New Zealanders,’ Mr Knowles concluded.
Media contact:Lydia Buchtmann, FSANZ (02) 6271 2620 or 0401 714 265 mobile.
A copy of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Strategic Review 2003 and FSANZ's response can be found on the FSANZ website www.foodstandards.gov.au .