(October 2019)
Purpose
FSANZ’s purpose is to contribute to the cooperative food regulatory system by developing science and evidence-based standards, providing evidence-based advice, coordinating regulatory responses and providing information about food standards.
We are established by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 , which was enacted to implement an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Australian Government and all states and territories and a treaty agreement between Australia and New Zealand.
The object of the Act is to ensure a high standard of public health protection throughout Australia and New Zealand. FSANZ’s objective is a safe food supply and well-informed consumers.
Our operating environment, structure and processes are detailed in Appendix 1 on page 46.
Annual performance statements
Under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 FSANZ is required to present annual performance statements.
Our reporting outcomes are linked with those of the portfolio agency, the Australian Government Department of Health, in particular the department’s Outcome 1: Population Health.
Through Program 1.1 the Australian Government aims to:
- ensure effective, evidence-based food standards
- coordinate food regulation to protect public health and safety
- provide food-related information.
The qualitative deliverables set by the portfolio agency and our performance against those deliverables are detailed below. The measures below are also reflected in our 2018‒19 Corporate Plan.
FSANZ outcome and program
| Outcome | 1: A safe food supply and well–informed consumers in Australia and New Zealand, including through the development of food regulatory measures and the promotion of their consistent implementation, coordination of food recall activities and the monitoring of consumer and industry food practices. |
| Program | 1.1: Food Regulatory Activity and Services to the Minister and Parliament. The Australian Government aims to ensure that all Australians have access to a safe food supply and adequate, accurate information to make informed choices about the food they consume. FSANZ develops evidence–based food regulatory measures, coordinates transjurisdictional food regulatory activities, and provides information about food regulation in order to enhance confidence in food for sale. |
| 2018‒19 target | Performance |
|
Food regulatory measures are considered in a timely manner. | Applications are assessed within 12 months or less as required by the FSANZ Act. |
All applications finalised this year were completed within the statutory timeframes. |
| Providing advice and co-ordinating regulatory responses |
Coordinate major food incidents under the National Food Incident Response Protocol. | Deliver efficient and effective food incident management through the Bi–National Food Safety Network and, when appropriate, the National Food Incident Response Protocol. | 14 issues were referred to the Bi– National Food Safety Network. Of these one was managed under the National Food Incident Response Protocol. Debriefings with key stakeholders occur after each incident to identify possible improvements in managing future incidents. |
|
Make a valuable contribution to ensuring that the food regulatory system is implemented consistently. |
FSANZ’s coordination role is effectively demonstrated in the annual report on recall activities (including evaluation outcomes) to states and territories, through the Implementation Subcommittee for Food Regulation (ISFR). |
FSANZ coordinated 106 recalls during 2018–19. FSANZ surveys stakeholders after each recall to determine the level of satisfaction with how the recall is managed. |
|
Deliver efficient and effective food recall coordination. |
Industry satisfaction with food recall coordination is ≥95%. |
All industry responses gave FSANZ a satisfied to very satisfied rating for food recall coordination. |
|
Providing food-related information
|
|
FSANZ is recognised as the primary source of information about food standards and food
regulation in Australia and New Zealand. | Stakeholders consistently report
a high level of satisfaction with
FSANZ and the information it
provides. | Results from 2019 stakeholder
survey show close to 70% of our
stakeholders are either satisfied
or very satisfied with FSANZ’s
overall performance in the last
two years. |
Improved understanding of
community food safety and
public health issues through the
Consumer and Public Health
Dialogue (CPHD). | Food policy is informed by public
health and consumer evidence
base. | We contributed advice in support
of policy work by the Food
Regulation Standing Committee
(FRSC) on sugar labelling,
pregnancy warning labels on
packaged alcoholic beverages
and formulated supplementary
sports foods. The CPHD met
twice during 2018–19 to
contribute consumer and public
health intelligence on issues and
challenges related to FSANZ’s
roles and responsibilities, and
the broader priorities of the food
regulatory system. |
Encourage stakeholder
engagement through up-to-date
information on FSANZ’s website
and social media interactions. a: Website unique visitors.
b: Social media interactions | a: >850,000
b: >200,000 | a: 1,134,000
b: 415,000 |
