The Government has asked Queen's Counsel Miriam Dean to chair its review into the Fonterra food scare, but the inquiry will be jointly led by Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye.

The ministers issued a statement yesterday saying it would be "a joint ministerial-led government inquiry" divided into two parts.

The first part would look at how the potentially contaminated whey protein concentrate entered the New Zealand and international markets and how it was addressed.

The other part would look at regulatory best-practice requirements, including the response of regulators.

The inquiry would report back on any recommended legal, regulatory or operational changes, they said.

Miriam Dean is a past president of the Bar Association and a former partner at Russell McVeagh. She led the recent review into the Crown Law Office.

Another two members are yet to be appointed to the review and one will be an international food safety expert.