FSANZ 2026-27 Cost Recovery Arrangements

20 February 2026

The Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC) and its members support the principle of cost recovery where an application delivers a clear commercial benefit.

The wait time for unpaid applications to FSANZ is unpredictable and can range from 12 to 18 months. The ability to expedite the start of the application assessment through voluntary payment of fees provides applicants with greater certainty in product pipelines (noting statutory timeframes and the logistics of getting approved products to market).

However, current fees particularly for higher-level General and Major procedures – are high relative to comparable international regulators and, when combined with long and uncertain timeframes, can function as a barrier to reformulation and innovation.

Member feedback indicates that, within the European Union, regulators do not charge application fees for regulatory amendments, including applications relating to food additives, novel foods, or other changes to food regulations. Applicants’ costs are generally limited to generating safety data and engaging external consultants to prepare submission dossiers.

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