Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ, formerly Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA); in Māori: Te Mana Kounga Kai - Ahitereiria me Aotearoa) is the governmental body responsible for developing food standards for Australia and New Zealand .
FSANZ develops food standards after consulting with other government agencies and stakeholders. The recommendations made by the body are open and accountable, and based upon a rigorous scientific assessment of risk to public health and safety.
All decisions made by FSANZ must be approved by the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council, which is composed of the Health Minister from each of the Australian states and territories, and the Health Minister from New Zealand, as well as other participating Ministers nominated by each jurisdiction.[1] This may lead to political interference in the decision, for example the decision made over hemp seed, when the Food Standards scientists recommended that hemp seed be allowed for sale, but the ministers vetoed this because they didn't want to appear soft on drugs.
Publications from FSANZ include the Australian Total Diet Survey and Shoppers' Guide to Food Additives and labels.