Food Standards Australia New Zealand

What Food Standards Australia New Zealand does

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is a bi-national statutory authority established in 1991 under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991. It is the sole agency authorized to develop and amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, which sets mandatory requirements for food safety, labelling, composition, and primary production across both countries. The agency operates within the Australian Government's Health portfolio and is governed by a Board appointed by both the Australian and New Zealand governments, with enforcement coordinated through state and territory food regulatory agencies in Australia and the Ministry for Primary Industries in New Zealand.

FSANZ's operational portfolio includes the Food Standards Code as a regulatory platform, a national Food Recall System, the Nutrition Panel Calculator for business compliance, and a suite of databases (Australian Food Composition Database, AUSNUT 2023, Australian Branded Food Database, Consumer Insights Tracker). The agency conducts risk assessments for novel foods, GM foods, additives, and processing aids, manages the public Consultation Hub built on Delib's Citizen Space, and produces sector-specific guidance (Safe Seafood Australia, Safe Horticulture Australia). Internationally, FSANZ participates in Codex Alimentarius and has piloted a Shared Assessment Process with Health Canada for GM food applications.

The agency is funded through a combination of government appropriations and cost-recovery fees on applications to change the Food Standards Code; the 2026-27 cost recovery review concluded with no fee changes proposed. FSANZ does not sell commercial products or services, and its "customers" are the full population of food businesses, consumers, health professionals, and government regulatory agencies in Australia and New Zealand.

Name

Food Standards Australia New Zealand

Legal name

Food Standards Australia New Zealand

Website

https://foodstandards.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is a bi-national statutory authority that develops and enforces mandatory food safety, labelling, and composition standards for Australia and New Zealand, serving food businesses, consumers, and government agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Safety Regulation

akta.pro primary industry

Food Standards, Labeling & Claims Regulation (HLAJAEAB)

Keywords

• Food safety regulation
• Food standards code
• Regulatory compliance
• Food labelling standards
• Food composition databases

Headquarters

HQ city

Canberra

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) develops and maintains the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, the mandatory legislative framework governing food sold in Australia and New Zealand. The agency conducts science-based safety assessments for novel foods, GM foods, and additives; operates a national food recall system; and provides compliance tools such as the Nutrition Panel Calculator and food composition databases for food businesses.

Product overview

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is a bi-national regulatory agency that sets food standards for safe food in Australia and New Zealand. The organization does not offer a traditional product suite but operates a portfolio of regulatory services including the Food Standards Code (legislative framework), the Food Recall System for managing food safety incidents, the Nutrition Panel Calculator for business compliance, and various food composition databases (Australian Food Composition Database, AUSNUT 2023, Australian Branded Food Database). Additional services include a Public Consultations Platform for stakeholder engagement on proposals and applications, the Consumer Insights Tracker for social science research, and publications such as Safe Seafood Australia and Safe Horticulture Australia. The agency conducts assessments of novel foods, genetically modified foods, and processing aids, while managing proposals and applications to change food standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Eggs were the suspected source in approximately 40% of foodborne Salmonella outbreaks in Australia from 2015-2019
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Codex Alimentarius CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSANZ participates in Codex Alimentarius Commission activities, including the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL). In May 2026, Australia co-led outcomes at CCFL49 in Ottawa including finalized guidance on food labelling flexibilities during supply chain emergencies and international precautionary allergen labelling standards.
• Health CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSANZ has established a Health Canada-FSANZ Shared Assessment Process for GM food applications, allowing coordinated safety assessments. Currently piloting this shared assessment approach to streamline regulatory processes for novel food approvals.
• Australian National University (ANU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSANZ commissioned ANU to develop a cost model and report on the annual cost of foodborne illness in Australia in 2020. The model covers costs for ten priority pathogens and four sequelae, and is used in regulatory impact assessments.
• State and Territory Food Regulatory AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSANZ coordinates with all Australian state and territory food regulatory agencies for enforcement of the Food Standards Code, outbreak investigations, and recall coordination. Agencies include NSW Food Authority, Safe Food Production Queensland, VIC Health, and others.
• Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSANZ works with New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries under the bi-national food regulation framework. New Zealand implements food standards through its Food Act 2014 and associated regulations.
• Implementation Sub Committee for Food RegulationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative committee that developed implementation packages for PPP standards including for poultry meat standards and egg production requirements.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) New Zealand: New Zealand's counterpart food regulator that implements the joint Food Standards Code domestically under the Food Act 2014. A direct partner and operational peer to FSANZ across the bi-national regulatory system.
• Singapore Food Agency (SFA): Singapore's integrated food regulator overseeing food safety, security and standards from farm-to-fork. Notably comparable in its progressive stance on novel foods (cultivated meat approvals), mirroring FSANZ's role in Oceania.
• Health Canada: Canadian federal department responsible for food safety policy, nutrition labelling and novel food assessments. Active partner of FSANZ via the Shared Assessment Process for GM food applications, with closely overlapping regulatory scope.
• European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): EU agency providing independent scientific advice on food safety, nutrition and emerging food risks. Closely comparable to FSANZ in its science-based risk assessment role, particularly around novel foods, GMOs and dietary exposure assessments.
• Food Standards Agency (UK): UK food regulator responsible for food safety and standards across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Directly comparable in mandate, structure (independent statutory authority) and function to FSANZ, though operating in a single-jurisdiction context.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Federal food regulatory authority with comparable mandate over food safety, labelling and novel food approval in the United States. Operates at greater scale and broader scope, but shares FSANZ's core function of setting and enforcing mandatory food standards.
• USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS): U.S. federal agency responsible for meat, poultry and egg product safety inspection. Comparable to the primary production and processing standards components of FSANZ's mandate, particularly around Proposal P1060 (egg food safety) work.
• Codex Alimentarius Commission: Joint FAO/WHO international food standards body in which FSANZ actively participates. Comparable in its standards-setting function at the global level, and a strategic partner for FSANZ's international influence efforts.
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): Statutory authority setting food safety and standards across India. Comparable in mandate and statutory structure to FSANZ, though operating at much larger population scale and with broader enforcement powers.

Regional players

• Food Standards Scotland: Scottish food regulator responsible for food safety, labelling and nutrition policy within Scotland. Structurally and functionally comparable to FSANZ as an independent statutory food authority, though limited to a sub-national jurisdiction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/fsanznews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@fsanznews9120
• Facebookfacebook.com/Food.Standards
• LinkedInau.linkedin.com/company/food-standards-australia-new-zealand

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Food Standards Australia New Zealand