Sent May 2021 - Dietitians Australia wrote to Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck in his capacity as Chair of the Food Ministers Meeting about the review of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (FSANZ Act).

Letter excerpt

Diet-related disease is the greatest public health issue linked to Australia’s food system. This is recognised by the government in several health policies including the draft National Preventive Health Strategy and draft National Obesity Strategy. However, the reform options presented in the draft FSANZ Act Review Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) fail to recognise this and fail to enable the Act to meet its primary goal of protecting public health.

The reform options presented in the RIS not only disregard public health advancements but take us backwards. The proposed reforms will increase barriers to implementing public health measures, compromise the independence of FSANZ, and further prioritisation of the food industry profits at the expense of public health. If the RIS is not revised to have a greater focus on public health, the reviewed FSANZ Act will not be fit for purpose.

For more read the full letter.