Gene Ethics Pty Ltd v Food Standards Australia New Zealand [2012] FCA 1137

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Gene Ethics Pty Ltd v Food Standards Australia New Zealand [2012] FCA 1137 Citation: Gene Ethics Pty Ltd v Food Standards Australia New Zealand [2012] FCA 1137

Parties: GENE ETHICS PTY LTD (ACN 104 140 918) and THE SAFE FOOD INSTITUTE LTD (ACN 145 106 547) v FOOD STANDARDS AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND

File number: VID 835 of 2011

Judge: KENNY J

Date of judgment: 19 October 2012

Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW — Judicial review of decision under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth) — Approval of draft variation to Standard 1.5.3 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code — Authority proposed additional amendments not requested in s 22 application — Extent to which s 30 draft variation must be responsive to application — Relevance of separate statutory pathway allowing Authority to prepare proposals on its own initiative — Authority not prevented from adding unrequested amendments — Sufficiency of s 31 public notice — Whether notice included a copy of the draft variation or stated how one could be obtained — Whether notice included a summary of the results of authority's assessment of the application or stated how one could be obtained — Relevance of potential for notice to mislead — Notice sufficient.

Legislation: Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth) Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth)

Cases cited: Cement Australia Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2010) 187 FCR 261 Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University (2009) 239 CLR 175 Nicholls v Australian Federal Police (2009) 192 A Crim R 425 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355 Momcilovic v The Queen (2011) 245 CLR 1 Roche Products Pty Ltd v National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee (2007) 163 FCR 451 RG Capital Radio Ltd v Australian Broadcasting Authority (2001) 113 FCR 185 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321 Australian Conservation Foundation Inc v Commonwealth (1980) 146 CLR 493 Onus v Alcoa of Australia Ltd (1981) 149 CLR 27 Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association v Minister for Industrial Affairs (SA) (1995) 183 CLR 552 Bateman's Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council v The Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund Pty Ltd (1998) 194 CLR 247 Edwards v Santos Ltd (2011) 242 CLR 421 Big Country Developments Pty Ltd v Australian Community Pharmacy Authority (1995) 60 FCR 85 Sinclair v Mining Warden at Maryborough (1975) 132 CLR 473 Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers v Secretary, Department of Transport (1986) 13 FCR 124 Australian Conservation Foundation v Forestry Commission (1988) 19 FCR 127 United States Tobacco Co v Minister for Consumer Affairs (1988) 20 FCR 520 Alphapharm Pty Ltd v SmithKline Beecham (Australia) Pty Ltd (1994) 49 FCR 250