Food

Food Policy Section

The Food Policy Section is responsible for providing national leadership on the regulation of the food supply. The Section also promotes a nationally consistent approach to food policy and regulation, and develops advice and policy for the Australian Government at both a national and international level.

The Food Policy Section is responsible for providing national leadership on the regulation of the food supply. The Section also promotes a nationally consistent approach to food policy and regulation, and develops advice and policy for the Australian Government at both a national and international level. The Food Policy Section works closely with the Food Regulation Secretariat Section. The Food Policy Section also works closely with the Population Health Division and the Office of Health Protection and other Government Departments such as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and Food Standards Australia New Zealand.

Current Responsibilities

• Develop and coordinate Government policy views on broad food policy issues before the Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC) and the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (Ministerial Council).
• Coordinate Australian Government responses to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and notification to the Ministerial Council of approval of variations to the Australia and New Zealand Food Standards Code.
• Participate in developing Australian Government positions on food issues being considered in the international arena ie. Codex Alimentarius Commission.
• Provision of advice to Ministers on food policy issues.

Food Regulatory Framework

• The Food Regulatory System is a cooperative bi-national arrangement between the Commonwealth, States and Territories and New Zealand.
• More detailed information about the structure of the Food Regulatory System and the ways the different areas operate can be found on the Food Regulation Secretariat website.
• More detailed information on Food Regulation Policy in New Zealand can be found on the New Zealand Food Safety Authority website.

Items for Consultation

• The Food Policy Section participates in working groups established by the Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC) which develops policy guidelines for referral to the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council. Draft policies or consultation papers requiring stakeholder and community input are posted on the Food Regulation Secretariat website.

Policy Guidelines and Standard Development

• The Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council is responsible for the development of policy guidelines for setting domestic food standards. Food Standards Australia New Zealand is responsible for the development of food standards.

Food Policy - Related Sites

Commonwealth Government

Top of page
Food Regulation Secretariat
Therapeutic Goods Administration
National Health and Medical Research Council
Food Standards Australia New Zealand
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services

State and Territory Governments

New South Wales

New South Wales Food Authority
NSW Agriculture
NSW Health

Queensland

Queensland Health
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
Safe Food Queensland

Victoria

Department of Human Services
Dairy Food Safety Victoria
PrimeSafe

South Australia

Department of Health
Department of Primary Industries and Resources

Northern Territory

Department of Health and Community Services
Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries and Mines

Western Australia

Department of Health WA
Department of Agriculture and Food WA

Tasmania

Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment

Australian Capital Territory

ACT Health

New Zealand

New Zealand Ministry of Health
New Zealand Food Safety Authority

The contact point for the Food Policy Section is as follows:

Ms Eva Mehakovic
Director
Phone: (02) 6289 5133
Fax: (02) 6289 5100

Postal Address:

Ms Eva Mehakovic
Director Food Policy Section
Department of Health and Ageing
MDP 15
GPO Box 9848
CANBERRA CITY ACT 2601