Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has been awarded a $492,495 grant to create an international food safety forum.
To be known as the Multilateral Food Safety Forum, it is hoped that the forum will include Australia, China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Singapore.
David Hazlehurst, Deputy Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, said by bringing these countries together, FSANZ will organise collaboration between food safety agencies across countries.
“The forum will aim to find areas where different countries can work together on food safety projects that promote science and risk-based approaches, are consistent with international standards, and benefit trade.
“This forum will also mean FSANZ can work with other countries on projects that support two-way trade between markets.
“While the forum will start off small, once it is established, we can look at expanding its membership to other countries.
“Building cooperation and partnerships across our region is how Australian agriculture will be able to deliver its goal of becoming a $100 billion sector by 2030.”