SIXTH MEETING
Wellington, New Zealand
7 - 8 May 2003
DRAFT SUMMARY OF KEY OUTCOMES
Food Standards Matters
Proposal P266 – Minor Omnibus Amendments to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code No. 3
On 6 December 2002, the Ministerial Council requested a review of a draft variation to Standard 2.9.2 as notified to the Council on 13 November 2002 in relation to Proposal P266 – Minor Omnibus Amendments to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code No. 3 . This Proposal corrected a number of typographical inconsistencies, misspellings, grammatical errors and deletions in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. In particular, the Council requested a review of the exemption of infant foods from the mandatory nutrition labelling of sodium.
Given that this matter was more significant than a minor amendment, and therefore required a round of public consultation, the Ministerial Council extended the timeframe for FSANZ to complete its review to nine months. In response to the request for a review and having regard to the issues raised by the Council, the Board has reviewed its decision and agreed to the First Review Report and the proposed draft variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code which will be released in the near future for public consultation, prior to further consideration by the Board.
Application A446 – Insect-protected and glufosinate ammonium-tolerant corn Line1507
The Board considered the Final Assessment Report for an Application which seeks approval for food derived from insect-protected and glufosinate-ammonium tolerant corn line 1507. A mandatory pre-market safety assessment is required under Standard 1.5.2 – Food Produced Using Gene Technology. The Board agreed to the Final Assessment Report and the proposed draft variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and the Board’s decision would now be notified to Ministers.
Application A453 – Trehalose as a Novel Food
The Board considered the Final Assessment Report for an Application which seeks to permit the use of trehalose as a novel food ingredient. Trehalose is a disaccharide which is found at low levels in certain foods (brewers and baker’s yeast, bread, beer and wine, honey and mushrooms) and exhibits the same technological properties as sucrose with a relative sweetness of 40-45% of that of sucrose.
Trehalose is used in a number of countries as a food (USA, South Korea and Taiwan) or food additive (Japan) and has been approved as a novel food in the European Union. The Board agreed to the Final Assessment Report and the proposed draft variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and the Board’s decision would now be notified to Ministers.
Application A467 – Alpha-amylase as a Processing Aid (enzyme)
The Board considered the Final Assessment Report for an Application which seeks approval for the use of an enzyme,alpha -amylase derived from Bacillus stearothermophilus as a processing aid. Alpha - amylase is used as a food enzyme which is involved in one of the stages of producing glucose syrups and maltodextrins used in a wide variety of food industries including confectionery, dairy foods, ice cream, general foods, beverages and health foods. The enzyme may also be used in the alcoholic beverage industry. Thisalpha-amylase is produced with the use of a non-genetically modified strain of Bacillus stearothermophilus. The Board agreed to the Final Assessment Report and the proposed draft variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and the Board’s decision would now be notified to Ministers.
Proposal P266 – Minor Omnibus Amendments to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code No. 4
The Board considered the Final Assessment Report for the fourth of several proposals which have been formulated by FSANZ to correct a number of typographical inconsistencies, misspellings, grammatical errors and deletions in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The Board agreed to the Final Assessment Report and the proposed draft variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and the Board’s decision would now be notified to Ministers.
Application A477 – Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs)
Application A486 – Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs)
The Board considered the Initial / Draft Assessment Reports for two Applications amending MRLs for agricultural and veterinary chemicals in foods. The Board considered the issues raised were of minor significance or complexity only and therefore agreed that only one round of public consultation need occur. The Board agreed to the Initial / Draft Assessment Reports and the proposed draft variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, which will be released in the near future for public consultation, prior to further consideration by the Board.
Application A472 - D-tagatose as a Novel Food
The Board considered the Draft Assessment Report for an Application which seeks permission for the use of D-tagatose as a novel food ingredient. A mandatory pre-market safety assessment is required under Standard 1.5.1 - Novel Foods. D-Tagatose is considered a ‘sugar’ and a non-traditional food ingredient because it has no history of significant human consumption in Australia or New Zealand. D-Tagatose is found in sterilised milk and milk powder as well as in other dairy products. The Board agreed to the Draft Assessment Report and the proposed draft variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, which will be released in the near future for public consultation, prior to further consideration by the Board.
Application A484 - Insect-Protected MON863 Corn
The Board considered the Draft Assessment Report for an Application which seeks approval for food derived from insect-protected MON863. A mandatory pre-market safety assessment is required under Standard 1.5.2 – Food Produced Using Gene Technology. The Board agreed to the Draft Assessment Report and the proposed draft variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, which will be released in the near future for public consultation, prior to further consideration by the Board.
Proposal P275 – Extension of Folate / Neural Tube Defect Health Claim
The Board considered the Initial / Draft Assessment Report for a Proposal which seeks to extend the temporary provision allowing the folate/neural tube defect (NTD) health claim on approved products, which is due to expire on 13 February 2004. The Board considered the issues raised were of minor significance or complexity only and therefore agreed that only one round of public consultation need occur. The Board agreed to the Initial / Draft Assessment Report and the proposed draft variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, which will be released in the near future for public consultation, prior to further consideration by the Board.
Application A452 – TwinSweet
A new intense sweetener, aspartame-acesulphame salt. Aspartame-acesulphame salt is a combination of two already approved sweeteners, aspartame and acesulphame potassium. The Board agreed that only one round of public consultation need occur.
Application A475 - Hexose oxidase, Enzyme
The Board considered the Draft Assessment Report for an Application which seeks approval for the use of an enzyme, hexose oxidase from a genetically modified host bacterial strain, as a processing aid. Its main application is in bread making to increase dough strength and bread volume; other applications are in cheese and tofu manufacture. The Board agreed to the Draft Assessment Report which will be released in the near future for public consultation, prior to further consideration by the Board.
Proposal P265 – Development of a Primary Production and Processing Standard for Seafood
The Board was updated on progress with the development of a Primary Production and Processing Standard for Seafood. The Issues Paper for public comment was published in the media and on the FSANZ website, promoted through the FSANZ Information Service and actively promoted to key stakeholders by members of the Seafood Standard Development Committee. The public comment period ran from 18 December 2002 until 28 February 2003.
Raw Milk Extra Hard Grating Cheeses
The Board was updated on progress with the review of the decision to exempt Raw Milk Extra Hard Grating Cheeses from the heat treatment requirement in the Processing Standard (Standard 1.6.2). FSANZ has undertaken to review its decision by December 2003. To help shape the review process, a workshop was convened in Melbourne on 17 February 2003, to share information and consider the issues of concern regarding raw milk extra hard cheeses for regulators and industry. Several key issues were raised in relation to the FSANZ scientific evaluation of this class of cheeses and the overarching principles to be followed when evaluating raw milk cheeses. It was agreed that a further technical forum would be held, which would focus on the issues raised by regulators surrounding the safety of raw milk extra hard grating cheeses. FSANZ will draft an Information Document addressing the issues raised within 5 weeks of the forum, for circulation amongst stakeholders.
Other matters
Community Forum
A community forum was held in association with the Board meeting, which was held in Wellington. About forty representatives from a wide range of backgrounds including government, community and public health bodies, industry and academia attended the forum. A number of issues were raised with the Board and senior FSANZ staff, including food safety, risk and safety assessments, risk communication, labelling issues, unintentional contamination of food, implementation of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and FSANZ’s new responsibilities relating to the development of primary production and processing standards.
Meeting with Kahui Kounga Kai (Maori Reference Group)
The Board met formally with the Kahui Kounga Kai which has been established to provide advice to FSANZ on Maori culture and community participation in relation to food standards development and related issues. The Kahui reported on its progress to date and highlighted issues requiring further consideration in order to ensure effective Maori input into standards development.
Unintended Contamination of Foods: Labelling Issues (Discussion Paper)
Members considered a discussion paper on unintended contamination of foods and the scope of clause 4 in Standard 1.2.3 in relation to the labelling of substances likely to cause severe adverse reactions where they were present in food unintentionally.
FSANZ’s Submission to the Productivity Commission’s Review of the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement
The Board considered a draft submission from FSANZ which has been prepared for the Productivity Commission’s review of the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement (TTMRA). There are two areas where the TTMRA impacts on food regulation. First, the process of harmonising food regulations in Australia and New Zealand was well advanced, but outstanding differences remained which impose costs on industry and might also have implications for public health and safety. The second issue was the current permanent exemption under the TTMRA of risk categorised food commodities.
New Zealand Strategic Review of Imports of Food and Food-related Products and Recent Developments in harmonising Australian and New Zealand Imported Food Arrangements
On 7 March 2003, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority released the Terms of Reference for an independent review of the New Zealand arrangements concerning imported food. The object of the review is to ensure that the importation of all food and food related products is safe and suitable for consumption; that food and related products (such as tableware) comply with New Zealand requirements; and that appropriate controls are in place to protect the security of New Zealand’s food supply. FSANZ has been invited to make a submission to the review and the Board considered a paper that outlined issues that would be covered.