GLOBAL ALLIANCE ON FOOD CRIME

The Global Alliance (GA) is a coalition of international leaders who have agreed to work together on the prevention, detection and disruption of food crime.

The GA initially agreed to have a small number of founder participants, consisting of food regulatory and enforcement organisations from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA, but are looking to involve any country that is willing and able to contribute to the aims and objectives of the GA moving forward.

For further information on the Global Alliance you can contact GAFC.Secretariat@aff.gov.au.

GA Strategic Objectives

Prevent food rendered unsafe or inauthentic through intentional acts of fraud or misrepresentation from entering or remaining in food supply chains;
Increase enforcement action in relation to food fraud, through collaborative activity, in accordance with relevant national food or criminal law
Support global prevention, detection and enforcement capability and capacity in this area;
Facilitate and build a global information sharing network amongst the global alliance members to prepare and respond to food fraud.

Members:
Australia
Canada
New Zealand
UK
US

Members of the GA aim to collaborate as enforcement bodies to protect consumers from intentional acts of fraud or misrepresentation, wherever they take place within global food supply chains. Protection can best be afforded through coordinated international action and the sharing of information and good practice across borders. The work of the GA is intended to complement but not duplicate work already underway in the regulatory/ law enforcement, scientific and academic communities.

Name of GAFC Members Department/ Agency:

Tactical and Operational Intelligence Section, Compliance and Enforcement Division

Government Department/ Agency

Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)

Year GAFC Members Department/ Agency formed:

The department was formed on 1 July 2022, with preceding departments dating back to 1901 as the Department of Trade and Customs.

Geographic Jurisdiction:

Australia (mainland) and Australian External Territories Norfolk Island, Indian Ocean Territories of Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

Responsibilities:

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is the lead government agency for the agricultural sector (agricultural, fisheries and forestry industries) in Australia. We play a vital role in advancing a more resilient, prosperous and secure Australia. We protect Australia’s food security, strengthen productivity, profitability and resilience in the agricultural sector and enhance our domestic and international competitiveness. We safeguard our plants, animals and the environment from pests and diseases.

Our policies and services span and protect the entire supply chain, helping to grow Australia’s economy and enable the Australian agricultural sector to produce high-quality, more sustainable products for consumption within Australia and overseas. We are a national regulator with responsibilities that include biosecurity and trade. We work in partnership with all levels of government and with local communities. We have scientific and technical expertise, connections with a range of domestic and international stakeholders and important partnerships across the private sector, from small agricultural businesses to multinational enterprises.

We work with industry, state and territory food regulators and other Australian Government agencies, including Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) who is responsible for developing domestic food standards under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

We monitor the safety and compliance of imported food to Australia’s food standards through a risk-based Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS).

Strategic Objectives:

Our role, vision and purpose are delivered through 3 strategic objectives:

1. Sector growth: Support Australia’s agricultural sector, including the food and fibre industries, to be increasingly prosperous and internationally competitive in an ever-changing world.

2. Sector resilience and sustainability: Increase the contribution agriculture, fisheries and forestry make to a healthy, sustainable and low-emissions environment.

3. National biosecurity: Strengthen our national biosecurity system to provide a risk-based approach and an appropriate level of protection Australia’s people, our environment and economy.

Capabilities:

As a regulator we enforce laws relating to:

agricultural goods imported into and exported from Australia
agricultural levies
imported food safety
imported wood and paper products
pest and disease risks of goods, people and vessels arriving in Australia.

How to Report Food Crime to GAFC Member:

Information relating to suspected non-compliance can be emailed to redline@aff.gov.au

Name of current individual GAFC member and job title:

Director - CED Tactical and Operational Intelligence Section

Name of GAFC Members Department/ Agency

Food Misrepresentation Design and Strategies Section, Consumer Protection Market Fairness Division

Government Department/ Agency

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

Year GAFC Members Department/ Agency formed

The CFIA formed in 1997. In 2019, the Food Policy for Canada invested funding for the CFIA to enhance its role in tackling food fraud.

Geographic Jurisdiction

Canada

Responsibilities

The CFIA’s responsibilities include setting and enforcing legislation that prohibits the labelling, packaging, treating, processing, selling or advertising of any food in a manner that is false, misleading or deceptive to consumers regarding the character, value, quantity, composition, merit or safety of the product.

We work to protect consumers and industry from food fraud by:

monitoring and analyzing risks and planning mitigation activities
conducting inspections and surveillance activities
analyzing food samples for adulteration and substitution
verifying that food labels and advertising materials comply with regulations
engaging with stakeholders to promote compliance and raise awareness
working with international counterparts
advancing research and method development
taking appropriate enforcement action

Mission Statement

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s mission is dedicated to safeguarding food, animals and plants, which enhances the health and well-being of Canada's people, environment and economy.

As part of this mission, as Canada's leading authority on food fraud oversight, we are committed to addressing food fraud so consumers can be confident they are getting what they paid for, and businesses can compete fairly in the market.

Strategic Objectives

The CFIA’s Strategic Vision for 2025-2028 is: To be a global leader in keeping food safe, protecting our country's plants and animals, and managing risk, while supporting the economy and market expansion. To empower our people to protect and support Canadians and Canadian interests in everything they do.

As part of this vision, the CFIA works to prevent, detect and deter food fraud in Canada.

Prevent the production, processing and sale of misrepresented food in Canada through proactive measures such as, risk intelligence and analysis, program design, compliance promotion, and international collaboration.
Detect food fraud through activities such as, inspecting, reviewing documentation and records, conducting label verifications, doing net quantity verifications, sampling and testing, and research and development.
Deter food fraud by taking appropriate action when non-compliance is found including enforcement actions that are published on our website such as administrative monetary penalties, licence suspensions and cancellations, notifications of charges laid and prosecution bulletins.

Capabilities

CFIA supports compliance by providing regulated parties with the tools, resources, guidance, and services they may need to become familiar with and follow regulatory requirements. Using a risk-informed approach, the agency conducts inspections and surveillance activities to verify that regulatory requirements are being met. When they are not, CFIA may use control actions to address any risk, as well as enforcement actions once non-compliance has been determined. These actions can include written notice, administrative monetary penalties, licence suspension or cancellation and recommending prosecution.

How to Report Food Crime to GAFC Member

The CFIA takes food fraud seriously and wants to know about products that consumers and industry think are misrepresented.

If you suspect food fraud, you can report it to the CFIA.

Name of current individual GAFC member and job title National Manager, Food Misrepresentation Design and Strategies

Information is coming soon....

1. NFCU

Name of GAFC Members Department/ Agency

National Food Crime Unit (NFCU)

Government Department/ Agency

Food Standards Agency

Year GAFC Members Department formed

2015

Geographic Jurisdiction

England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Responsibilities

Managing the threat posed by food crimes, namely serious fraud and related criminality, within the food supply chain.

Mission Statement

As part of the Food Standards Agency, our Mission is to identify, investigate, disrupt and prevent the most serious cases of food fraud.

We protect consumers and legitimate businesses by conducting intelligence-led food fraud investigations, by strategically assessing and communicating the food crime threat, and through food crime prevention activity with regulators, government and industry.

Strategic Objectives

Prevent food being rendered unsafe or inauthentic through dishonesty
Disrupt offenders and bring them to justice
Build domestic and global counter food crime capability.

Tactical Priorities 2025/26

Misrepresentation of lamb, beef and poultry (with regards to status)
Misrepresentation of lamb, beef, poultry and dairy (with regards to origin)
Adulteration and Substitution of lamb, beef, poultry and dairy
Waste diversion, including ABP handling within red meat, poultry, dairy and feed supply chains
Specific supply chains presenting high levels of authenticity risk to the UK.

Capabilities

Investigations:

Conduct criminal investigations and submit disclosure compliant files to Crown Prosecution Service for consideration of commencing criminal proceedings.
Conduct Financial Investigations to ensure bad actors do not profit from their criminality.
Develop intelligence to determine whether criminal investigations should be undertaken.

Intelligence:

Manage, receipt, recording, triage, research and analysis of criminal intelligence including development of intelligence from sensitive sources
Undertake Strategic Assessments and identify Control Strategy Priorities
Engage with Food Industry and Stakeholders regarding food crime prevention and intelligence sharing.

How to Report Food Crime to GAFC Member

Anyone with suspicions of food crime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can report it safely and confidentially to the NFCU. You can report a food crime online or by freephone on 0800 028 1180. For non-UK mobiles or calls from overseas please use 0207 276 8787.

Name of current individual GAFC member and job title

Andrew Quinn – Head of National Food Crime Unit

2. SFCIU

Name of GAFC Members Department/ Agency

The Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit (SFCIU)

Government Department/ Agency

Food Standards Scotland (FSS), United Kingdom.

Year GAFC Members Department/ Agency formed

FSS – 2015; SFCIU - 2016

Geographic Jurisdiction

Scotland

Responsibilities

The prevention, investigation and disruption of food crime in Scotland. This includes serious or complex fraudulent conduct and regulatory non-compliance involving dishonesty within the food, drink and animal feed supply chains.

Mission Statement

To create a safe, healthy and sustainable food environment that benefits and protects the health and well-being of everyone in Scotland

Strategic Objectives

Detect: Identify opportunities to gather intelligence and uncover food crime across the supply chain.

Disrupt: Undertake intelligence-led, multi-agency actions targeting threats and harmful behaviour.

Deter: Work with partners and industry to make the environment hostile to criminality and raise awareness to discourage potential offenders.

Divert: Support prevention strategies with partners to reduce the opportunities for food crime.

Tactical Priorities 2025/26

Meat and meat products.
Alcohol.
Animal by-products.
Supply chains of high risk.

Capabilities

The SFCIU is the dedicated intelligence and investigation arm of FSS.

Intelligence Gathering and Analysis:-

Collect, receive, analyse, develop, evaluate, risk assess, prioritise and action information relating to suspected food crime. This includes development of criminal intelligence from sensitive sources.
Identify trends, patterns and emerging risks in the food supply chain.
Produce a range of intelligence products under the National Intelligence Model (NIM) that guide prevention, detection, investigation and disruption.
Collaboration and engagement with stakeholders regarding intelligence sharing, food crime prevention and criminal investigations.

Investigations:

As a specialist reporting agency, conduct criminal investigations and submit reports for the consideration of prosecution to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS)
Conduct investigations into regulatory breaches at FSS approved establishment and submit reports for the consideration of prosecution to COPFS

How to Report Food Crime to GAFC Member

Anyone with information on suspected food crime can report this via the Scottish Food Crime Hotline which is operated in partnership with Crimestoppers on telephone number 0800 028 7926. This number is free to call and provides anonymity for the caller. Food crime can also be reported via the dedicated reporting form (anonymous) hosted by Crimestoppers which can be accessed through the FSS website. The unit can also be contacted directly via email at foodcrime@fss.scot .

Name of current individual GAFC member and job title

Ron McNaughton – Head of the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit

Name of GAFC Members Department/ Agency

Human Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration

Government Department/ Agency

Department of Health and Human Services

Year GAFC Members Department/ Agency formed

Please see: FDA History | FDA.

Geographic Jurisdiction

United States

Responsibilities

The Human Foods Program oversees all FDA activities related to food safety and nutrition, organized in a single group working under the Deputy Commissioner of Human Foods. More information can be found at: Human Foods Program | FDA.

Mission Statement

The mission of FDA’s Human Foods Program is to ensure that food is a source of wellness for all U.S. consumers, and the day-to-day activities are focused at protecting and promoting the health and wellness of all people through science-based approaches to prevent foodborne illness, reduce diet related chronic disease, and ensure chemicals in food are safe.

Strategic Objectives

FDA conducts various initiatives to protect consumers from the potential health risks and economic harm from food fraud.

Tactical Priorities

General information on how FDA combats food fraud can be found at: Economically Motivated Adulteration (Food Fraud) | FDA.

Capabilities

Please see: Economically Motivated Adulteration (Food Fraud) | FDA.

How to Report Food Fraud/Food Crime to GAFC Member

Please see: Get Assistance from the FDA Human Foods Program (HFP) | FDA.

Name of current individual GAFC member and job title

Updates

'Oct 2026
'Jul 2026
'Dec 2025
'Dec 2024
'Apr 2024
'Mar 2024

In late September 2026, the Global Alliance on Food Crime (GAFC) convened virtually for our third quarter meeting focusing discussions on current and future proactive joint intelligence activities. The meeting also provided the mechanism to progress arrangements for our upcoming in-person event, to be hosted by the U.S Food and Drug Administration.

Look out for our contribution to the upcoming Food Authenticity Network newsletter which highlights activities of the GAFC.

In February and June 2026, the Global Alliance on Food Crime (GAFC) held its first two quarterly virtual meetings of the year, bringing together member agencies from across the Alliance. Discussions focused on opportunities to raise awareness of the GAFC and its remit, while strengthening collaboration to address the evolving threat of food crime.

The meetings also explored opportunities for closer collaboration with the Food Authenticity Network (FAN), whose open-access platform helps share knowledge and promote greater awareness of food authenticity and food crime prevention. The GAFC is grateful to FAN for hosting this dedicated GAFC page, which provides a platform to share updates on the Alliance's work.

The work of the GAFC continues to strengthen the exchange of timely information and intelligence across multiple jurisdictions, supporting a coordinated international response to food crime. The next quarterly virtual meeting is scheduled for September 2026.

To find out more about the GAFC, please contact the Secretariat at GAFC.Secretariat@aff.gov.au.

In December 2025 representatives from the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland, and New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries travelled to Sydney Australia where they were hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) in progression of the Global Alliance on Food Crime (GAFC). Joined virtually by representatives from the US Food and Drug Administration and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (who endured the lengthy late-night discussions due to time zones), the group discussed progression of current joint activities and continuing collaboration in line with the GAFC Strategic Objectives.

During the two-day event, DAFF accepted the roles of Chairperson and Secretariat from Ron McNaughton of Food Standards Scotland who has carried this responsibility since 2021. The GAFC membership would like to acknowledge Ron’s contributions over the years, and the enduring support provided by Food Standards Scotland. Ron continues in his membership position within the GAFC providing support and guidance to the new Chairperson, Murray Bell.

Following the GAFC event, DAFF showcased their regulatory capabilities focused on the department’s Imported Food Inspection Scheme, and broader biosecurity/agricultural remit, which included presentations from the Australian Border Force and Australian Federal Police / INTERPOL. The group obtained an enhanced understanding of Australia’s operating environment.

Members of the Global Alliance on Food Crime (GAFC) had a very busy week when they met up in Edinburgh during December last year (2024).

Representatives from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency(CFIA) and USA FDA made the long journey to Scotland to join up with UK representatives, Food Standards Scotland’s Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit and FSA’s National Food Crime Unit, to discuss all things food crime.

As a bonus, all those attending were able to take part in Opson/EMPACT event, which was also taking place in Edinburgh at the same time. Opson is an annual operation, led by Europol, which targets fake and unsafe food and beverages. This event was attended by law enforcement and regulators from across Europe and was a fantastic opportunity for GAFC members to interact with their European counterparts and discuss common issues. There was also an opportunity to formally showcase GAFC work and future plans in the form of a presentation given by GAFC members Murray from DAFF and Jodi from the CFIA.

In terms of the GAFC meeting, a significant number of matters were discussed and an action plan, designed to deliver the GAFC strategic objectives and developing processes that will allow joint activity to be undertaken by member countries, was agreed. These discussions were very positive and will see the GFAC’s work progress over the next 12 months.

In addition, The Food Authenticity Network’s (FAN) very own Executive Director, Selvarani Elahi, addressed the group on the work of FAN and gave an overview of the new the European Food Fraud Community of Practice (EFF-CoP) project that FAN is a partner of. This three-year Horizon Europe project aims to revolutionise the combat against food fraud and enhance transparency in food supply chains. Further information can be found on the FAN EFF-CoP page or its LinkedIn page. All GFAC members agreed to consider partnering with FAN and see how they could assist FAN in extending its reach in each member country.

The group also took some time to meet with representatives from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to find out more about the work they are doing globally and how the GAFC could assist some of this work from a food crime perspective moving forward. Further meetings will take place early in 2025 to map out exactly how the GAFC can support UNIDO’s work in this regard.

GAFC members will take the time to meet regularly during 2025, working collaboratively to deliver the GAFC action plan and consider options for additional joint activity on common issues.

Regular updates will be provided over the coming months, however, further information on the work of the GAFC can be obtained by emailing the Chair of the GAFC, Ron McNaughton at ron.mcnaughton@fss.scot.

In April 2024, members of the Global Alliance on Food Crime (GA) met in person for the first time since the COVID 19 pandemic. The meeting took place in Singapore over 2 days and tied in with the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) conference which was being held within the city at the same time. Representatives from all five founder member countries of the GA were in attendance, either in person or virtually for the duration of the meeting.

Since COVID, the group have met on-line twice a year to discuss matters of mutual interest, however, these meetings have had to take place late into the evening and early morning in order to allow for the time differences. Getting together face to face allowed most of the group to meet one another in person for the first time, which allowed for in depth discussion on an extensive agenda that covered the 2 day meeting. One of the main areas of discussion, however, focussed on the GA’s strategic objectives and how the group could deliver outcomes to support these.

It was clear that each member is already doing work in these 4 areas and a first step would be to capture all that work and consider where the focus needs to be moving forward.

Other things that were discussed at the meeting were current issues of note, emerging risks, crime prevention activities, good practice that could be shared and collaborative activity, amongst other matters. The group are planning to meet virtually towards the end of the summer and then again in person to tie in with the Operation Opson meeting that is taking place in November.

Regular updates on the work of the group will be posted here over the next 12 months.

For more information on the work of the Global Alliance please email ron.mcnaughton@fss.scot.

The next meeting is due to take place in early April 2024, where the members will develop actions around the GA's four strategic objectives, consider emerging food crime risks and how the GA can work together to mitigate impact, look at sharing good practice and discuss increasing group membership, amongst other things.

We will be providing regular progress updates on the GA page of the Food Authenticity Network.

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