More than 250 in-person and virtual participants joined us for the 2026 Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Stakeholder Forum at Queensland Parliament in Brisbane on 17 June 2026.
The forum brought together representatives from public health, consumer organisations, academia, government and industry to explore the theme Strong foundations, future ready: 30 years of joint food systems.
Presentations and panel discussions explored the evolution of the joint food standards system over the past 3 decades, the role of trust in maintaining confidence in food regulation and the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of the bi-national system.
The forum brought together a wide range of perspectives and experiences. One thing was clear, the operating environment is becoming increasingly complex, with changing consumer expectations, emerging public health challenges, new technologies, climate and supply chain pressures, and growing demands for transparency and responsiveness.
Conversations reflected a shared commitment to maintaining a strong, trusted and effective food regulatory system and provided an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange ideas and consider how the system can continue to evolve to meet future challenges.
Discussion throughout the day highlighted 4 key areas of interest for stakeholders: ensuring the regulatory system remains fit for the future, supporting public health and nutrition outcomes, maintaining consumer trust and informed choice, and strengthening collaboration across jurisdictions.
The conversations may have focused on the future, but they reinforced a lesson from the past 30 years: the best outcomes come from collaborating and working together.
A big thank you to all speakers, panellists and participants for contributing to an informative and engaging day.