Contents

Acknowledgments

Acronyms

Executive summary

Background
The Australian food industry
The proposed standards
Options considered
Preferred option
Costs and benefits to industry
Costs and benefits to government
Primary production sector
Assessing the performance of the standards
Benefits to the community

Introduction

Statement of the problem

The current food hygiene regulatory environment
The Australian food industry
Expectation of consumers that their food supply is safe

Incidence of foodborne illness

Foodborne pathogens, chemicals and physical contaminants
Worldwide increases in foodborne illness
Under-reporting of foodborne illness
Foodborne illness in Australia

Cost of foodborne illness

Breakdown of costs
Estimation of the cost of foodborne illness in Australia
Cost to consumers
International studies on the cost of foodborne illness
Summary

Cost of food regulation

Government
Industry

Proposed food safety standards

Philosophy underpinning the standards
Content of the standards
Rationale for implementing the standards
Activities underpinning the standards
Performance assessment of the standards

Assessment of options for food safety regulation

Background
Identification of options
Option 1: Continue with the current system
Option 2: Nationally consistent outcomes-based food safety standards
Option 3: Nationally consistent prescriptive food safety standards
Option 4: Risk-based application of the food safety standards
Option 5: Self-regulation and consumer education

Summary of options

Conclusions

References

Appendix 1: Assumptions used by John Hawkless to derive costs of
proposed food safety standards to business

Appendix 2: Food Safety Standards

Acknowledgments

The contributions of many individuals have greatly assisted the Australia New Zealand Food Authority in undertaking this regulatory impact analysis. In particular, the following people and organisations have contributed directly to the content of the report.

External contributors

Mr John Hawkless, John Hawkless Consultants Pty Ltd
Mr Tom Heyhoe, Heyhoe and Associates Pty Ltd
Mr James Skinner, KPMG Management Consultants
Mr Drew Voetsch, Hunter Public Health Unit
Mr Ewan Waterman, Access Economics
Members of the Australia New Zealand Food Authority Advisory Committee
State and Territory Senior Food Officers

Australia New Zealand Food Authority staff

Dr Ian McKay (Project Manger)
Ms Elizabeth Dean
Ms Liz Lang
Mr Peter Liehne
Ms Tania Martin
Ms Claire Pontin
Mr Richard Souness
Ms Rose Too
Ms Jenny Williams

Acronyms