Food Regulation Secretariat

The Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council

This page contains information about The Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (Ministerial Council)

On this page:

• Scope/objectives
• Communication on Ministerial Council decisions
• Composition
• Chairing arrangements
• Frequency of meetings
• Associated meetings of officials
• Secretariat arrangements
• Formal operating procedures

The Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council was formerly known as the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council.

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to new food regulatory arrangements in November 2000. The Australian and New Zealand Governments and Australian States and Territories are represented on the Ministerial Council. The necessary legislative and Australia New Zealand Joint Food Standards Agreement changes were finalised on 1 July 2002. Health Ministers are now joined by Ministers from other relevant portfolios such as agriculture and consumer affairs, to ensure a whole-of food-chain approach to food safety regulation.

Scope/objectives

The Ministerial Council is primarily responsible for the development of domestic food regulatory policy and the development of policy guidelines for setting domestic food standards. The Ministerial Council also has the capacity to adopt, amend or reject standards and to request that these be reviewed.

Communication on Ministerial Council decisions

A communique is released on completion of each meeting and is displayed on this website.

Request for a review by the Ministerial Council of a draft standard or a draft variation to the Australia and New Zealand Food Standards Code.

Composition

Membership of the Ministerial Council comprises Health Ministers from most Australian States and Territories, the Australian Government, and New Zealand as well as other Ministers from related portfolios (Primary Industries, Consumer Affairs etc) where these have been nominated by their jurisdictions. All jurisdictions, except New Zealand, have nominated a Lead Minister for voting purposes. New Zealand has nominated their Minister for Food Safety as Lead Minister for voting purposes.

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Chairing arrangements

Under the Inter-Governmental Agreement an Australian Government Health Minister chairs the Ministerial Council.

Frequency of meetings

The Ministerial Council is required to meet face-to-face at least once in a calender year.

Associated meetings of officials

The Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC) is responsible for co-ordinating policy advice to the Ministerial Council. The FRSC comprises senior officials of the Departments for which Ministers represented on the Ministerial Council have portfolio responsibility. The FRSC meets at least twice a year. An Implementation Sub-Committee (ISC) reports to the FRSC.

The ISC develops and oversees a consistent approach across jurisdictions for the implementation and enforcement of food regulations and standards. ISC reports to FRSC.

Secretariat arrangements

The Food Regulation Secretariat services the Ministerial Council, FRSC and ISC which is part of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, Regulatory Policy and Governance Division.

The first point of contact for the Ministerial Council FRSC and ISC is the Food Regulation Secretariat.

Formal operating procedures

These procedures were approved by the Ministerial Council on 4 April 2003.

• Operating Procedures for the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council and the Food Regulation Standing Committee

Review of the operations of the Ministerial Council

On 2 May 2008, the Australian and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (Ministerial Council) finalised the first Review of its operations and endorsed the implementation of the seven recommendations. The recommendations are to be implemented within the next 12 months and will make the operation of the Ministerial Council more strategic and efficient.

Review of ANZFRMC Operations - Final Report 2 May 2008 (PDF 178 KB)
Review of the Operations of the ANZFRMC - Workplan (PDF 59 KB)