The Terms of Reference for ISFR can be found here.
ISFR members include the Australian Government, New Zealand and Australian state and territory senior officials responsible for food regulation and the Australian Local Government Association
ISFR is not a food regulation policy body, a standards setting body or a regulatory authority. It is a subcommittee where Australian and New Zealand food regulators meet to discuss and determine common approaches to implementing food standards which are then agreed and produced as guidelines. ISFR also consults with, and provides high level advice to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).
ISFR's work is done through face to face meetings, out–of–session business sessions, and other meetings as required. ISFR produces Industry guidelines and the necessary tools to help jurisdictions achieve consistency in implementing food standards. ISFR's role applies equally to imported, exported and domestic food. To provide industry with greater clarity around interpreting and complying with food standards ISFR uses the process that is set out in the integrated model to support standards development and promote consistent implementation of Primary Production and Processing Standards. ISFR meeting outcomes are available online.
To help monitor and enforce standards implementation across jurisdictions members develop a Coordinated Food Survey plan which identifies and prioritises the survey activities. The resulting food survey reports are made publicly available.
ISFR's key roles:
- to determine common approaches to implementation of food standards
- to produce guidelines for these common approach
- to monitor the safety of the food supply
- to develop protocols and tools to support national food incident responses
- to develop a surveillance plan that identifies and prioritises survey activities
