Administration
Documents relating to administration include personnel, finance, property and resource management records.
Agreements
FSANZ holds copies of the following agreements:
- The Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia, the states, the Northern Territory of Australia and the Australian Capital Territory relating to the adoption of uniform food standards (2000).
- The Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand establishing a system for developing joint food standards which was signed in 1995 and came into effect in 1996. (This document can be found on the Internet under the Australian Treaty Series 1996 Number 12. This link is available from the our website at www.foodstandards.gov.au, together with links to all relevant legislation).
Food recalls
A full list of the products involved and the reasons for each recall are given in an end-of-year food recall report. A summary appears in this annual report.
Briefs, submissions and reports
We prepare and hold copies of briefing papers, submissions and reports relevant to specific functions. Briefing papers and submissions include those prepared for ministers, the Forum on Food Regulation, the Food Regulation Standing Committee, Implementation Subcommittee on Food Regulation and other committees.
Databases
We maintain a wide range of computer databases to support our information and processing needs, including the Australian Nutrient Databank and our dietary modelling software (DIAMOND). All are held in our Canberra office.
Files
Both paper-based and computer-based records are maintained on FSANZ's activities. They primarily relate to the processing of applications or proposals associated with a draft standard or a draft variation to a standard. While most of these records are held in our Canberra office, some are held in the Wellington office.
Finance documents
We maintain a series of documents relating to FSANZ financial management, including our chart of accounts, expenditure and revenue ledgers and appropriation ledger.
Freedom of information enquiries
Initial enquiries about access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 should be directed to the General Manager Legal and Regulatory Affairs on +61 2 62271 2222.
Mailing lists
We maintain, for our own use, mailing lists to disseminate information to key stakeholders and interested individuals. Documents distributed through this list include FSANZ annual reports, Food Standards News, Food Surveillance News, information circulars, information summaries, Explanatory Notes and Statement of Reasons.
Maps and plans
Maps and plans held are mainly working drawings, plans and specifications for our offices.
Public Register
We maintain a Public Register of documents for all applications and proposals. Applications, public submissions and other associated material (with the exception of any commercially confidential material or other confidential information), as well as relevant FSANZ documents are placed on the Public Register file.
The Public Register files are now generally available electronically. Members of the public wishing to access files no longer have to come to the Canberra or Wellington offices to view the documents.
Public Register files can be inspected for an administrative charge with five working days' notice. In Australia, the charge is: 1 file AU$110; 2–4 files AU$145; and 5 or more files AU$180. Copying, postage and CDs are charged in addition to these costs. The charge may be partially or fully waived for academic institutions, private individuals, community, consumer or non-profit organisations.
Review and research
Documents relating to policy review, dietary surveys, labelling research and organisational and communications reviews are held in our Canberra office.
Media releases
All media releases are available on request. They can also be accessed from the FSANZ website at www.foodstandards.gov.au.
Publications
See Appendix 7 for a list of current publications.
