The AFGC strongly supports best practice regulation. Legislation and regulation should be introduced only in accordance with the Australian Government Guide to Regulation, which enshrines principles of evidence-based, minimum effective regulation. Regulators should consider Australia’s place in an integrated global economy, and adopt equivalent overseas risk assessments and approvals, when conducted by appropriate competent authorities.
AFGC advocates for regulation that is:
- Practical for industry to implement, and for authorities to enforce;
- Cost-effective, imposing minimal regulatory burden on the industry, and minimal extra enforcement requirements on regulatory agencies;
- Valuable to consumers, providing choice reflected by meaningful labelling and product differentiation in the market, maintaining truthfulness and accuracy; and
- Consistent with Australia’s and New Zealand’s international trade obligations as signatories to WTO agreements.