quality management & product development site

Principles for the Development of Food Regulatory Policy Guidelines
International Trade and Food Regulation
Food Science & Technology Dept.
Food regulation policy guidelines

• are the mechanism through which the Ministerial Council can provide Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) with clear parameters within which to develop or review food standards.
• The guidelines aim to improve food regulatory outcomes through the provision of clear, unambiguous policy guidance to food regulators.

Food regulation guidelines should be consistent with:

• the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (the Act); and
• the Food Regulation Agreement 2000 (amended in 2002);
• the Australia New Zealand Joint Food Standards Treaty (the Treaty);
• obligations as members of the World Trade Organization (WTO);
• policy objectives established by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and by New Zealand;
• the requirements specified in the ‘Principles and Guidelines for National Standard Setting and Regulatory Action by Ministerial Councils and Standard Setting Bodies’ (amended in 2004); and
• the requirements specified in New Zealand policies on minimum effective regulation primarily contained in the New Zealand Code of Good Regulatory Practice.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council
• Food Regulation Standing Committee
• Implementation Sub-Committee
• Food Regulation Secretariat
• Food Standards Australia New Zealand
• Jurisdictions

Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council

• Under the Food Regulation Agreement 2002:

I. the development of domestic food regulatory policy;
II. the development of policy guidelines for setting domestic food standards;
III. the promotion of harmonised food standards within Australia between the Parties (harmonisation of domestic standards between States and Territories and of domestic standards with export standards) and with Codex Alimentarius (harmonisation of domestic and export standards with international food standards set by Codex Alimentarius);
IV. the general oversight of the implementation of domestic food regulation and standards; and
V. the promotion of a consistent approach to the compliance with, and enforcement of food standards.

• Under the Treaty –> similar terms but limited to the areas of joint food standards between Australia and New Zealand.

Filed under: RPPI