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Food safety in Australia and NZ: Scenario shaped by collaboration
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Friday, 12 December, 2025, 13 : 00 PM [IST]
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Dr Sandra Cuthbert
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Food safety in Australia and New Zealand is underpinned by a long-standing, science-based bi-national food regulation system that has safeguarded consumers for decades. This strong foundation positions both countries well to adapt to the rapid changes in food systems we are seeing today. As climate pressures, global supply chain shifts, new food production techniques and rapid advances in technology reshape how food is grown, manufactured, transported, sold and consumed, Australia and New Zealand’s joint food regulation system stands ready to respond.
The strength and ongoing success of the system is underpinned by collaboration. Engagement and cooperation between governments, regulators, public health experts, industry and consumers brings together the insights needed to strengthen our food regulation system and ensure that food standards in Australia and New Zealand remain fit for purpose in an increasingly complex environment.
The emerging scenario for our region is clear: the approach to food safety must be dynamic, flexible and grounded in evidence to meet the scale and speed of change ahead.
A rapidly evolving food environment
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is observing rapid advances in how food is produced and retailed, as well as how information flows through supply chains and to consumers. As the agency responsible for developing and maintaining the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, which sets requirements for the composition, labelling and safety of food sold in both countries, we monitor these trends closely.
These developments reflect a broader wave of innovation across the food sector. Cell-cultured foods and precision-fermented ingredients are becoming more prominent in global markets, while digital tools ranging from AI-enabled logistics to smart packaging and traceability systems are transforming how food data is generated and verified. At the same time, climate variability, cost pressures and geopolitical shifts are also influencing the availability and movement of food.
These trends highlight how interconnected the global food environment has become. What happens in one part of the system can have immediate consequences for others, whether related to safety, supply or public trust. Collaboration across our food regulation system, supported by consultation with stakeholders and international counterparts, helps FSANZ anticipate change, share intelligence and ensure regulatory decisions are grounded in the best available science.
Shared science, shared evidence
Science remains the foundation of food safety in Australia and New Zealand, with collaboration central to maintaining a strong evidence base. Domestically, strong engagement with public health experts, industry representatives and food regulators ensures decisions are not only evidence-based but practical, reflecting the needs of those responsible for following and enforcing standards while protecting public health and safety.
Our work is also strengthened by engagement with international counterparts and scientific networks, which keeps us connected to emerging developments in food safety and supports alignment with global approaches. This includes our relationships with the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization and Codex Alimentarius, as well as participation in shared assessment programs and regulatory dialogue.
Monitoring and surveillance to identify emerging risks
Our surveillance and monitoring programs are delivered in partnership with relevant government departments, research organisations, laboratory partners and public health bodies, giving us the data we need to ensure the food supply is safe and understand emerging risks.
The 28th Australian Total Diet Study, which has analysed around 2,000 foods for more than 500 chemicals, is providing essential insights into dietary exposure and helping identify where standards may need updating. Similarly, results from our national antimicrobial resistance (AMR) survey of raw retail meat, the largest undertaken in Australia since 2008, will support future system-wide action under Australia’s National AMR Strategy.
Modernising standards for new technologies
In 2025, an important step forward was taken with updates to the definitions for gene technology and new breeding techniques in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. These updates reflect scientific advances over recent decades and ensure regulation continues to focus on outcomes that matter for safety. They also provide clearer pathways for innovation and support trade through better alignment with approaches used in economies such as Canada, Japan and England. This work was shaped through extensive public consultation, scientific engagement and close collaboration across our food regulation system. Importantly, as other regulators modernise their own frameworks, the approach taken in Australia and New Zealand is being looked to as a model for balancing innovation with strong public protections.
Collaboration also supported the assessment of cell-cultured quail, the first cell-cultured food approved for sale in Australia and New Zealand. Assessing this product required detailed consideration of nutrition, composition, potential allergens and microbiological safety, informed by input from system partners, consultation with stakeholders and engagement with international counterparts. Through this work, FSANZ established a modern regulatory framework, providing a clear pathway for future for cell-cultured foods applications while protecting public health.
Strengthening food information through collective effort
Consumers want trusted information to help them make decisions, while industry needs standards that are clear, practical and aligned with global trading partners. Meeting these expectations relies on close engagement with regulators, public health experts, industry and consumer groups to ensure food information standards are practical and evidence-based.
Recent updates, such as mandating energy labelling on alcoholic beverages, reflect this shared approach and support informed consumer choice. Work is also progressing on front- and back-of-pack nutrition labelling, including preparatory analysis to inform a 2026 decision on mandating a front-of-pack Health Star Rating system across Australia and New Zealand.
Looking ahead, we will be commencing work on digital approaches to food labelling, informed by stakeholder consultation, to better understand how digital tools could improve consumer access to information while supporting efficient compliance for businesses.
A system prepared for the future
The emerging scenario for food safety in Australia and New Zealand is shaped by rapid change and growing complexity. Collaboration, supported by evidence-based science and transparent processes, is essential for navigating this landscape and maintaining public confidence.
By modernising standards, strengthening the evidence base, improving how we work and deepening partnerships with stakeholders across the food system both domestically and internationally, FSANZ will continue to support a safe and trusted food supply for consumers across our region into the future.
(The author is CEO, Food Standards Australia New Zealand)
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