Corporate Overview
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Who we are
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is an independent statutory agency established by theFood Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991.This was enacted following agreement between the governments of Australia and the States and Territories (through the Intergovernmental Food Regulation Agreement 2000) and the governments of Australia and New Zealand (under a Treaty), for a single binational food standards setting agency.
Role and functions
Our role is to protect and inform consumers through the development of effective food standards and in a way that helps stimulate and support growth and innovation in the food industry. We do this for Australia and New Zealand.
We are responsible for developing, varying and reviewing standards and for developing codes of conduct with industry for food sold in Australia and New Zealand covering labelling, composition and contaminants. In Australia, FSANZ also develops food standards for food safety, maximum residue limits, primary production and processing and a range of other functions, including the coordination of national food surveillance and recall systems, conducting research and assessing policies about imported food.
Our main function is to develop, vary or review food regulatory measures, whether as a result of an Application from an outside body or through a Proposal of our own.
We do this by:
- assessing Applications and Proposals to amend or vary the Australia NewZealand Food StandardsCode;
- monitoring and evaluating hazards in food to support the development of food regulatory measures;
- fostering national and international networks; and
- strengthening the evidence base for food standards decision-making.
Appendix 7 details FSANZ’s functions and powers.
Assessment of Applications and Proposals to amend or vary the Code
The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Codecame fully into effect in Australia and New Zealand in December 2002 when the former Australian Food Standards Code and the New Zealand Food Regulations were repealed. This is the first full year of operations under the new Code.
During the year we received 34 Applications and prepared 11 Proposals, and finalised 20 Applications and 11 Proposals. Each Application and Proposal goes through a complex process of assessments and public consultation.
An Initial Assessment Report is developed and public submissions are invited through notices in newspapers,Food Standards News,circulars to stakeholders and on our website. FSANZ then makes a Draft Assessment after considering any submissions and undertaking a comprehensive scientific risk assessment, together with a regulatory impact analysis. The Draft Assessment Report includes a draft proposed standard when the Board concludes that a new standard or an amendment to a standard is warranted. The Board then considers the Draft Assessment Report and, if endorsed, the Report is released as a public document, posted on the website and stakeholders are advised of its availability. After a Standards amendment is drafted, a second round of public consultation usually follows. After considering any further public submissions a Final Assessment Report is produced and published. Standards, once approved by the FSANZ Board, are notified to the Ministerial Council. If the Council adopts the amendment to the Code, standards are gazetted and become law at the date specified in the public notice.
The Standards Setting Process
Appendix 4 details FSANZ’s processes for assessing Applications.
Organisation structure
We are part of the Australian Government’s Health and Ageing portfolio.
In response to the findings of an external Strategic Review carried out in 2003, FSANZ was restructured into four core Branches to give effect, as practically as possible, to the functional separation of risk assessment of public health and safety hazards from the risk management and risk communication functions, to strengthen FSANZ’s science function, and to expand the role of the Wellington office.
These Branches are:
- Food Standards (Canberra)
- Food Standards (Wellington)
- Scientific Risk Assessment & Evaluation
- Food Safety & Services
Details of our organisational structure are provided in the section of the Report under Our Accountability.
Report against the Corporate Plan
This annual report focuses on the performance of Food Standards Australia New Zealand against its Corporate Plan. The Corporate Plan describes our four key result areas – Our Regulatory Measures, Our Stakeholders, Our People, Our Accountability – and the management strategies that set out how the organisation will achieve its objectives and performance targets. The Corporate Plan provides the broad direction and priorities and establishes a framework for more detailed business plans and performance agreements for all staff.
Our vision is:
- to protect the health and safety of people in Australia and New Zealand through the development of effective food standards.
We do this collaboratively with all Australian and New Zealand governments and with our industry, consumer and public health stakeholders.
Within the context of that vision, our mission is:
- to work as productive partners in the Australian and New Zealand food regulatory system.
Ministerial responsibility
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, The Hon. Trish Worth, MP has executive responsibility for FSANZ and food regulation.
Outcomes and outputs structure
The services provided by Food Standards Australia New Zealand contribute to one of the Health and Ageing Portfolio’s nine outcomes - the Population Health and Safety outcome:
- promotion and protection of the health of all Australians and minimising the incidence of preventable mortality, illness, injury and disability.
FSANZ seeks to advance this outcome through the maintenance of a safe food supply.
In terms of the 2003-2004 Portfolio Budget Statement (PBS) we identified three major indicators of performance:
Indicator | Target |
Food regulatory measures based on rigorous scientific risk assessments, regulatory impact analysis and comprehensive stakeholder input. | Improved quality of food regulatory measures. |
Indicator | Target |
Level of knowledge and understanding of Food Standards Code and Food Safety Standards by industry and consumers. | a. Improvement in knowledge, attitude and behaviour concerning safe food handling practices that will promote health and prevent illness over time. b. Improvement in knowledge and understanding of food labels that will enable consumers to make informed health choices in relation to food. |
Indicator | Target |
Timely and completed implementation of food recalls. | All food recalls initiated within 24 hours of formal notification and 100% of recall reports obtained from industry. |
Appendix 5 provides details of our Outcomes and Output Structure.
Summary of financial performance
FSANZ is an Australian Government statutory agency and therefore operates primarily through an Australian government appropriation. In 2003-2004 we received $13.442 million from the Australian Government. Because we also operate under an Agreement with New Zealand, the New Zealand Government also contributes towards the costs of those activities we undertake for Australia and New Zealand. In 2003-2004 this amounted to $1.326 million.
We also receive limited revenues for fee for service activities and royalties on publications. In accordance with the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act1997 the FSANZ Board is responsible for FSANZ’s financial management. In order to do this effectively, FSANZ operates in accordance with a forward financial plan. During the year, FSANZ commenced a review of this plan to ensure appropriate financial outcomes in this and future years. This has been necessary due to the demand driven nature of FSANZ’s work and its limited resources together with its obligations to ensure it has sufficient reserves to meet its liabilities.
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