This week FARE submitted to the Review of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 – draft Regulatory Impact Statement. In our submission, FARE took the strong stance that the health and wellbeing of the Australian community must be prioritised above the profits of alcohol companies. We raised concern that the draft Regulatory Impact Statement inadequately addresses the risks and costs to the Australian community and government from preventable long-term public health outcomes. FARE also raised concern about the barriers to implementing essential public health measures that the recommended policy options would present. For example, pregnancy warning labels would have been significantly less likely to be implemented in their current form under the reforms proposed in the draft Regulatory Impact Statement because of the increased importance given to trade and business concerns.
FARE also signed an Open Statement alongside other public health organisations from across the country.
