Submissions on applications and proposals to change the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) can be made by clicking the “lodge a submission” button below.
Submissions must be in writing and should be sent electronically where possible.
All submissions must be received by the due date which is on the front page of our reports and on the documents for public comment page. Extensions to the due date will also be advised on the documents for public comment page.
If you have any difficulties lodging your submission online or your submission contains confidential material email it to submissions@foodstandards.gov.au.
What should my submission include?
Your submission should include:
- the number or name of the application or proposal
- your name and contact details including: position, address, telephone number, fax and email address
- for organisations, the level at which the submission was authorised.
Your submission may have greater impact if it:
- comments on the issues raised and any possible options
- provides as much supporting evidence as possible e.g. groups or individuals who may be affected, data on the impact of the proposed decision, relevant technical information
- is written with regard to the policy framework FSANZ must have regard to.
Your submission should:
- be simple, clear and concise
- be supported by relevant, reputable and current data where possible
- use appropriate and specific case examples
- include a brief summary, especially if the submission is lengthy.
Where possible, submissions should contain scientific evidence rather than conjecture to back up any assertions as FSANZ is required to use the best scientific evidence available in its decision-making processes. If no scientific or other validated evidence is provided by a submitter, FSANZ will still have regard to those comments, but may not be able to give those comments the same weighting as that given to scientific evidence.
Lodging a submission
FSANZ prefers that you lodge your submissions online by email to submissions@foodstandards.gov.au.
Many submissions are received that raise issues and concerns which FSANZ does not have responsibility for and cannot address. In this case, these issues should be raised with the relevant Commonwealth agency, State, Territory or New Zealand Governments. If in doubt, email standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au .
What happens to my submission?
Your submission should be acknowledged within three business days.
Under the Information Publication Scheme, your submission will be published on our website unless you provide appropriate reasons for FSANZ to treat it as confidential. Submissions will be published as soon as possible after the end of the public comment period. Details such as direct phone numbers, personal email addresses or addresses of private individuals are redacted from documents before publication.
Under our legislation, FSANZ is required to treat information as confidential if it identifies trade secrets relating to food and any other information relating to food, the commercial value of which would be or could reasonably be expected to be destroyed or diminished by disclosure. Confidential commercial information should be clearly identified and separated from your submission. If FSANZ does not agree that the information meets the criteria for confidential information, you will be given an opportunity to withdraw the submission before it is made public.
You may want to keep only parts of your submission confidential. If this is the case, this should also be indicated in your submission.
All relevant issues raised in submissions will be considered by FSANZ. Subsequent reports will address these issues.
Questions relating to making submissions or the application process should be emailed to standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au.
Keeping informed
You can be placed on a mailing list for future advice on a specific application or proposal by emailing standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au and attaching this completed form (word 101 kb).
You can also register online to read about applications and proposals FSANZ is developing by registering to our subscription service. For assistance in registering online contact the FSANZ Information Officer in Australia email information@foodstandards.gov.au
