The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) and its Australian counterpart, the New South Wales Food Authority (NSWFA) have signed a new agreement to boost cooperation on a range of food safety issues that will benefit consumers and industry.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NZFSA and NSWFA represents an important step in improving cooperation between the two agencies on a broad range of food safety and regulatory matters.

NZFSA Executive Director Andrew McKenzie says: "New Zealand is a major international producer and exporter of food, as is Australia. It is vital that we work closely with NSWFA as the state is both a major food market for, and a supplier to, New Zealand.

"Food safety for consumers of New Zealand and New South Wales food is a shared responsibility. In addition, as both are global exporters, what happens in food safety in one country can reflect internationally on the other. We're delighted to be working even more closely with another of the world's respected food safety agencies."

NSWFA Director-General George Davey echoes Dr McKenzie's comments. "This MoU gives us formal agreement on cooperating and sharing information across a range of important issues," he says.

"NZFSA and NSWFA have a lot in common and confront similar issues. While we both have considerable experience in dealing with a range of food issues, our new MoU means we can more fully support each other."

Dr McKenzie says NZFSA and NSWFA will also collaborate in their work within the bi-national food regulatory system, for example in relation to survey programs and improved coordination with local government, which should benefit both countries.

The MoU was signed in Wellington on September 1. Areas of cooperation outlined include policy development, standards and systems, incident response, food science, communications and compliance and enforcement.

ENDS

© Scoop Media