FSANZ Evaluation Strategy 2004 - 2008
May 2004
Full Report [ 
Word | pdf 238 kb ]
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This document outlines the strategy for undertaking a scientific and technical evaluation of new key food regulatory measures developed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) for 2004–2008. The aim of the evaluation is to assess the effectiveness and appropriateness of food regulatory measures by assessing the long term impact for stakeholders and to provide evidence to inform future decisions on food regulation.
The strategy to evaluate new food regulatory measures takes a consultative approach, with input from the FSANZ Advisory Group on Evaluation, which has representatives from key stakeholders in Australia and New Zealand, such as the food industry, consumer groups, health professionals and enforcement officers. The Australian Government Departments of Health and Ageing (DoHA), Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and Employment and Work Relations (DEWR) each contribute an advisor to the FSANZ Data and Evaluation Steering Committee, which oversees the evaluation.
Recommendations arising from the evaluation will be forwarded to the FSANZ Board for information and final reports on the outcomes of research will be made available to the public on the FSANZ website. Recommendations which may influence broad policy issues will also be forwarded for information to the Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC) and/or the Implementation Sub-Committee (ISC), recognising these committees’ interests in the development of a broad policy framework for setting food standards.
The evaluation will be undertaken by assessing the following:
- if the key regulatory changes implemented in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) and associated regulatory measures are appropriate measures to achieve a regulatory system that was less prescriptive, easier to implement and amend whilst encouraging innovation, harmonisation and trade, as outlined in the objectives of the review of food regulation in Australia and New Zealand completed in 2000; and
- if the regulatory changes are effective in meeting the stated objectives outlined in theFSANZ Act 1991of protecting public health and safety, providing adequate information relating to food to enable consumers to make an informed choice and prevention of misleading or deceptive conduct.
- The evaluation process may include an assessment of food standards, codes of practice or guidelines, where appropriate, as well as FSANZ supporting material such as interpretative user guides and fact sheets if available.
The 2004-2008 Evaluation Strategy outlines planned evaluation activities for the next five years, including new work associated with the development of primary production and processing standards and regulation for nutrition, health and related claims, options for evaluating other new regulatory measures implemented in this five year time period and follow up research for previous activities.
The review of the Australian Food Standards Code and 1984 New Zealand Food Regulations resulted in many regulatory changes, some major, some minor. Key regulatory changes were identified in the 2001-2003 Evaluation Strategy for which the effect of their implementation on stakeholders will be evaluated. These were: key labelling changes (mandatory nutrition labelling, percentage labelling, allergen labelling and date marking against the context of general labelling requirements); the change from a prescriptive to a generic, horizontal food additive standard; and the introduction of Food Safety Standards for Australia.
The regulatory measures included in the 2001-2003 Evaluation Strategy focussed on the joint Code adopted in November 2000, gazetted in Australia in December 2000 and in February 2001 in New Zealand. The 2001-2003 Strategy also considered the Novel Foods Standard adopted in June 2001, the Standard for Foods Produced using Gene Technology adopted in December 2001; and the Food Safety Standards that have been adopted by Australian States and Territories on various dates since 24 February 2001. Baseline research was undertaken during 2001-2003 in relation to the key changes.
All follow up research projects undertaken by FSANZ during 2004-2008 will assess the changes experienced by stakeholders since the time of the baseline research, enabling the evaluation to be completed and providing evidence to inform future decisions on food regulation.
Full Report [ Word | pdf 238 kb ]