Slide 1

Mastering Supply Chain Integrity in the
Australian Food Industry –

FSANZ’s Contribution
Janine Lewis
Food Standards Australia New
Zealand
DEEDI sponsored R&D forum, Brisbane, May 2011


Slide 2

The system
Standard setting
Food regulatory system
depends on effective
collaboration.

FSANZ (consistent with Codex)

Policy

Enforcement

Ministerial Council
(States/Territories/Aust/NZ)
(health/agriculture portfolios)
FSANZ Act

States/Territories/ISC
FSANZ (monitoring)
AQIS (imported foods)
Local government


Slide 3

Food regulatory players
Australia

Ministerial
Council

Board

New
Zealand

Food Reg’tion
Standing C’tee

Food
Standards
Australia New
Zealand
(FSANZ)

States
and
Territories

Implementation
Sub-c’tee

OGTR

TGA

AQIS

Committees
and advisory
groups

Stakeholder input
© FSANZ 2006


Slide 4

Food safety
practices and
programs

Composition of
food products

(Australia only)

Added substances
and new foods

Labelling of
allergens and
other warnings

Food
Standards
Code

Labelling, including
claims

Contaminants and
residues


Slide 5

Implementation Sub-Committee
(ISC)
• Responsible for consistent implementation and
enforcement of food standards.
• The ISC work plan has eight (8) operational
components.
• Each component has a 3-year work plan.


Slide 6

Component 1: ISC Coordinated Food
Survey Plan
• 3-year forward plan (e.g. 2010-2013)
• Actioned by FSANZ, states and territories
and/or New Zealand
• For purpose of enforcement, research,
response to food incidents (recalls)
• Lead agency & participants
• Sets out timeframe for planning, sampling &
analysis and report writing


Slide 7

Surveillance Priority Factors
•
•
•
•
•
•

Potential risk to human health & safety.
Importance of the food in the total diet.
Persistence, ubiquity and abundance of the
agent in the environment.
Feasibility of measuring the level of the problem
in a reliable manner.
Potential economic or social impact of the
problem
Public perception of risk or adverse impact.


Slide 8

Results of analytical food surveys
• Contribute to FSANZ’s scientific evidence
base.
• Provide data on concentrations of chemicals
of interest in foods for estimation of dietary
intake.
• Can inform food standards setting process.
• Can inform enforcement and identify potential
issues for follow up.


Slide 9

Recalls in 2010
• Total of 53 recalls; 7 at trade level
• Some recalls linked to National Food
Incidents including:
– High iodine soy beverage and seaweeds
– Metal fragments in salt
– Weight loss products containing
sibutramine