Food Act 2008 and Public Health Act 2016 Reporting
Overview
Local Government enforcement agencies are required to report to the Department of Health on their performance of functions under the Food Act 2008 (Food Act) (as required by section 121) and the Public Health Act 2016 (Public Health Act) (as required by section 22). Whilst local governments have been reporting on their functions under the Food Act for a number of years, the 2016/2017 financial year represents the first year that local governments need to report on their functions under the Public Health Act. The reporting requirements for both Acts have been combined.
Why your views matter
Local government enforcement agencies are responsible for the administration of the Food Act and subsidiary legislation within their district and part of this responsibility is to report to the Chief Executive Officer (the Director General) of the Department of Health on the performance of functions under the Food Act.
The 2016/2017 financial year is the first year that local governments are required to report on thier functions under the Public Health Act as a way to assist the Department of Health in the regulatory review process as part of the Public Health Act roll out and implementation. All responses received will assist the Department of Health in determining how public health risks should be managed in Western Australia going forward under the Public Health Act.
What happens next
The findings of the Food Act 2008 will be used to produce a report on the performance of functions under the Food Act 2008. The report will be produced triennially, the next of which will be for the 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19 financial years. The report provides insight into the implementation of the food safety legislation in Western Australia and is used by the Department of Health to identify issues that require support to ensure the consistent and effective implementation of the food legislation in Western Australia.
The findings of the Public Health Act 2016 reporting section will be used by members of the Environmental Health Directorate legislation team in the regulatory review projects as part of the ongoing implementation of the Public Health Act. The information will form a part of the Regulatory Impact Statements to provide evidence to why and how public health risks in Western Australia should be managed going forward.
Audiences
- Local governments
Interests
- Consumer/carer/community engagement