About Food Regulation Partnership

clarify the responsibilities of local government in relation to food regulation
improve food safety coordination between councils and the Authority in several areas, including food inspections
enable quicker responses to food emergencies and food recalls,
enable all councils to recover the costs of food regulation enforcement, as well as
establish a food regulation forum for consultation.

see also: Impact of new laws summary for stakeholders

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Supporting councils

The Food Regulation Partnership model includes a comprehensive program to support and assist council roles in food regulation by the NSW Food Authority by:

facilitating 16 regional food surveillance network groups (listed below),
convening a Statewide Regulatory Liaison Group,
publishing monthly newsletters on food safety and foodborne illness,
providing technical advice and,
establishing an individual contacts database for rapidly disseminating information.

The regional food surveillance network groups meet approximately quarterly. Meetings include approximately 2 hour training sessions. Training session topics in 2005 have included Food Act Enforcement, Food Act Seizures and Doner kebab shop inspections. Future sessions on Temperature control, Foodborne illness and Labelling are planned.

CENTRAL SYDNEY
CENTRAL WEST
FAR WEST
HUNTER/CENTRAL COAST
ILLAWARRA
MID-NORTH COAST
MURRAY
MURRUMBIDGEE

NORTHERN (NEW ENGLAND)
NORTHERN RIVERS
NORTHERN SYDNEY
NORTH WEST
SOUTH EAST
SOUTH EASTERN SYDNEY
SOUTH WESTERN SYDNEY
WESTERN SYDNEY

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Careers

Local councils employ a significant number of the state's food inspection officers.

see: careers in food safety

Food Regulation Partnership assistance

Resources to help explain and implement the partnership include:

Food regulation guide part 1 responsibilities, administration, support (pdf, 1.6MB)
Food regulation guide part 2 'Draft protocols and guidelines', sent directly to councils
Portal for local government officers
Food Regulation Partnership explained

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Evolution

The Section 73 Review (pdf, 1.63 MB) conducted by The Hon. John Kerin, which recommended the establishment of the Authority, also recommended that the NSW Government explore with Local Government, implementation of a model which would better define and resource council roles in food regulation In mid-2003, a Steering Committee was established, with representation by the Authority, Department of Local Government, NSW Health, the Local Government Association of NSW, the Shires Association of NSW, the Australian Institute of Environmental Health and the Development and Environmental Professionals Association.

The Steering Committee took a consultative approach to designing new arrangements. In November 2003 general directions were proposed and in October 2004 an Issues and Options Paper was released which addressed the issues of defining roles, funding, coordination arrangements and support and assistance by the NSW Food Authority for councils. Stakeholder feedback about the Issues and Options Paper was used to prepare a blueprint for a partnership between Local and State Government. The blueprint was published in April 2005 as an Exposure Draft to provide the opportunity for further stakeholder input. The blueprint was finalised in October 2005. In June 2006 the State Government allocated $1.6M for the 06/07 year to support implementation of the blueprint.