Australia’s safe food system
Australia has a well-deserved reputation for a safe and clean food supply. The food industry, consumers, public health professionals and governments work with us on standards to ensure our food remains safe and consumers are protected.
Food policy
Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation
Australian Government – Department of Health & Ageing
The food policy framework for Australia is set by the Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation which consists of health and agriculture ministers from the states and territories, and the Australian and New Zealand governments. Food standards are developed to reflect this policy framework.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has responsibility within the Australian Government for policy and programs that support a globally competitive and sustainable Australian food industry. Key areas of focus include the development of a national food plan, food value chain policy and food regulation reform.
Regulation including food standards
Food Standards Australia New Zealand
We develop the food standards in the Food Standards Code with advice from other government agencies and input from stakeholders.
Food standards cover the use of ingredients, processing aids, colourings, additives, vitamins and minerals. They also cover the composition of some foods, such as dairy, meat and beverages as well as new technologies such as novel foods. We are also responsible for labelling for both packaged and unpackaged food, including specific mandatory warnings or advisory labels.
Public input is an important part of our decision-making process. Get involved and have your say.
Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator regulates genetically modified (GM) organisms. If GM crops or animals are to be used in food then they must be approved by FSANZ.
Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) places strict limits on agricultural and veterinary chemicals that can be used on crops and animals. The APVMA also sets withholding periods for when chemicals are used and when plants or animals can become part of the food supply. FSANZ then sets safe levels for chemical residues in our food.
Enforcement
State and territory health or human services departments
Food standards are enforced by the states and territories (usually their health or human services departments) or, in some cases, by local government. These authorities regularly check food products for compliance with the Food Standards Code.
You should contact your local state or territory heath authority if you think there is a problem with a food. The food industry also regularly monitors food production to ensure our food supply continues to be high quality and safe.
DAFF Biosecurity
The Imported Foods Inspection Scheme is jointly run by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Biosecurity and FSANZ. FSANZ undertakes food risk assessments and DAFF Biosecurity has responsibility for inspection and sampling. Imported food is placed into one of three inspection categories, which determine how often food will be inspected.
Imported food must comply with the Imported Food Control Act 1992 which also requires imported food to comply with the Food Standards Code.
Surveillance
Coordinated Food Survey Plan
FSANZ is represented on the Food Regulation Standing Committee’s Implementation Sub Committee (ISC) which was introduced to ensure common, nationally agreed food safety outcomes. FSANZ is the sponsor of the ‘Surveillance and Monitoring’ component of the ISC workplan. This includes the development of the Coordinated Food Survey Plan, a 3 year forward plan, which is updated annually.
FSANZ, along with other government agencies in Australia and New Zealand, monitor the food supply to ensure it is safe. FSANZ routinely conducts targeted surveys and Australian Total Diet Studies to collect analytical data on the levels of chemicals, microbiological contaminants and nutrients in food. This leading role in surveillance activities provides important information for our standards development work.
Communicable Disease Network Australia (CDNA) and OzFoodNet
The Communicable Disease Network Australia and OzFoodNet monitor incidents and outbreaks of foodborne disease which can lead to the detection of an unsafe food product or unsafe food practice.