The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Food Regulation Policy Section works with industry and other Australian government agencies - particularly the Department of Health and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to ensure Australia's food regulations protect public health and safety.
The department contributes to policies designed to:
- minimise regulatory costs to industry
- encourage innovation, and
- align domestic and international food standards.
The department encourages industry and the community to participate in developing
food regulatory policy and
food standards.
FSANZ maintains a listing of
Applications and
Proposals to amend the code for which public comment is sought.
Who is responsible for food safety in Australia?
Australia has comprehensive controls in place that protect Australians from exposure to unsafe food.
These controls include the
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, which is enforced by state and territory governments and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources for imported food.
There are three levels of government in the food regulatory system and each level of government plays a role in protecting public health and safety through regulating food (including imported food) for human consumption.
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The Commonwealth Government
State and territory governments
The state and territory governments develop and administer food legislation, which gives legal force to the requirements of the Food Standards Code. Regulation of food production at the farm level is typically covered by primary production legislation. State or territory food acts usually cover food processing requirements through to retail sale requirements.
Local government
Along with the state and territory governments, local governments are responsible for monitoring the compliance of food in their jurisdiction.