Food Standards Notification Circular
6 August 2008
[13-08]
This Notification Circular includes notices that are required to be given to the public, submitters and appropriate government agencies, under theFood Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991(FSANZ Act). All references below to sections of legislation, are to the FSANZ Act unless otherwise indicated.
Further information about the applications, proposals and other matters mentioned below, including assessment reports, processes and – where applicable – reasons for decisions, can be accessed on the FSANZ website at www.foodstandards.gov.auunder<Standards Development>, then <Documents for Public Comment>and then
The Information Officer | The Office Administrator |
Food Standards Australia New Zealand | Food Standards Australia New Zealand |
PO Box 7186 | PO Box 10559 |
CANBERRA BC ACT 2610 | WELLINGTON 6036 |
AUSTRALIA | NEW ZEALAND |
Tel +61 2 6271 2241 Fax +61 2 6271 2278 | Tel +64 4 978 5630 Fax +64 4 473 9855 |
General questions on the work of FSANZ should be directed to the Information Officer at the either of the addresses above. Queries concerning the matters in this Circular on assessment or submission processes should be directed to the Standards Management Officer at standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au .
Progress on Applications and Proposals
Details on Final Assessments, notifications to Council and Council processes and Gazettals from the notice below were published on 6 August 2008in The Australian and TheNew Zealand Heraldnewspapers, as well as on the FSANZ website.
New Applications and Proposals [s.28]
(Note that this section is not a call for public comment)
FSANZ has received the following Application and placed it on the FSANZ Food Standards Development Work Plan:
General Procedure
- Application A1010 – Amendment to Bentonite Specification: to approve a broader pH range in the specification for bentonite [19 June 2008] [Arumpo Bentonite Pty Ltd]
Information on the Application, including an anticipated timetable for assessment and consultation opportunities, is provided in the FSANZ Food Standards Development Work Plan which is available on the FSANZ website at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/standardsdevelopment/standardsworkplan.cfm .
Administrative Assessment Reports can be accessed on the FSANZ website at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/standardsdevelopment/applications/index.cfm . If you wish to be advised of any developments relating to the above Application, such as calls for public submissions, please contact the Standards Management Officer at standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au .
Please note that the above section is not a call for public comment.
Call for Submissions
General procedure– Proposals [s.61]
FSANZ has assessed the following Proposal; will further consider it; and invites written submissions for the purpose of preparing draft food regulatory measures 6pm (Canberra time) 3 September 2008:
- Proposal M1002 – Maximum Residue Limits (January, February, March 2008)[Australia only]: to amend maximum residue limits for a number of agricultural and veterinary chemicals
Draft Assessment - Applications [s.17(2) as was in force prior to 1 July 2007]
(Received or prepared before 1 October 2007)
FSANZ has prepared draft food regulatory measures or variations for the following Applications; will make Final Assessments in relation to each of these drafts; and invites written submissions for the purpose of making a Final Assessment by 6pm (Canberra time) 17 September 2008:
- Application A614 – Food derived from Glyphosate-tolerant Cotton Line GHB614: to approve food derived from cotton genetically modified to provide tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate
- Application A615 – Food derived from Insect-protected Cotton Line COT67B: to approve food derived from cotton genetically modified to provide resistance to Lepidopteran species
Preliminary Final Assessment
(Received or prepared before 1 October 2007)
FSANZ has prepared a draft food regulatory measure for the following Proposal; will make a Final Assessment in relation to the draft; and invites written submissions for the purpose of making a Final Assessment b y6pm (Canberra time) 17 September 2008:
- Proposal P274– Review of Minimum Age Labelling of Foods for Infants: to review the minimum age labelling of foods for infants. Standard 2.9.2 requires a label on an infant food to include a statement indicating the minimum age, expressed in numbers, of the infants for whom the food is recommended
Discussion Paper
FSANZ has prepared a discussion paper for the following Proposal; will further consider the Proposal; and invites written submissions by 6pm (Canberra time) 17 September 2008:
- Proposal P1007 – Primary Production & Processing Requirements for Raw Milk Products [Australia only] : to consider the risks associated with the production and sale of raw (unpasteurised) milk products in Australia and possible risk management measures to address the identified risks.
Approval and Council Notification [s.34, s.41, s.53, s.64, s.69]
After consideration of draft standards or variations for the following Applications and Proposals, FSANZ decided to approve the draft [A1001, P1003] and approve the draft subject to amendment [P1001].
FSANZ has given the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (Ministerial Council) written notification of these approvals:
- Application A1001 – Food derived from Insect-protected Corn Line MIR162
- Proposal P1001 – Omnibus VII
- Proposal P1003 – Mandatory Iodine Fortification for Australia [Australia only]
Once FSANZ has notified the Ministerial Council that it has approved the draft standard or variation, the Ministerial Council has 60 days to either request FSANZ to review the approved standard or inform FSANZ that it does not intend to request a review. Further information on the Ministerial Council process is available on the FSANZ website at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/standardsdevelopment/ministerialcouncilre1834.cfm .
Final Assessment and Council Notification – Applications And Proposals – Draft Standards[s.19(1), s.20(4A) as was in force prior to 1 July 2007 ]
(Received or prepared before 1 October 2007)
After making a Final Assessment in relation to draft variation for the following Application, FSANZ decided to approve the draft variations under section 18 of the FSANZ Act. FSANZ has given the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (Ministerial Council) written notification of these approvals:
- Application A540 – Steviol Glycosides as Intense Sweeteners
EFFECT OF DIVISIONS 3 AND 4 OF PART 3 OF THE FSANZ ACT
A standard or variation approved by FSANZ does not become legally enforceable until:
the Ministerial Council has been notified of the standard or variation; and
the Ministerial Council process in relation to the standard or variation is finalised; and
- FSANZ has fulfilled the publication requirements under the FSANZ Act.
Once FSANZ has notified the Ministerial Council that it has approved the draft standard or variation, the Ministerial Council has 60 days to either request FSANZ to review the approved standard or inform FSANZ that it does not intend to request a review.
If the Ministerial Council requests a review, FSANZ must, within 3 months (or longer if the Ministerial Council allows), complete the review and notify the Ministerial Council of a decision to either:
- maintain its original approval; or
- to amend its approval; or
- withdraw its approval; and
give the Ministerial Council FSANZ’s reasons for its decision.
If FSANZ has not withdrawn its approval, the Ministerial Council has another 60 days to either request a second review or inform FSANZ that it does not intend to request a second review. If the Ministerial Council requests a second review, the procedures and timeframe are the same as for the first review. Once an approved standard has been reviewed twice, the Ministerial Council has 60 days to inform FSANZ that the Council does not intend to amend or reject the approved standard, or to amend or reject the approved standard.
If the Ministerial Council informs FSANZ that:
- it does not intend to request a review of the approved standard; or
- it does not intend to amend or reject the approved standard; or
- it has amended the approved standard after the second review;
FSANZ will publish a notice in the Commonwealth (published by FSANZ as the Food Standards Gazette) and New Zealand Gazettes and in newspapers stating when the standard or variation comes into effect. FSANZ will also publish this notice along with the text of the standard on the FSANZ website and make copies of these available for inspection by the public. The standard becomes legally effective on the date specified in the notice.
Draft Assesment - Applications [s.17A(2) as was in force prior to 1 July 2007]
(Received or prepared before 1 October 2007)
After making an Draft Assessment of the following Application, FSANZ decided to reject the Application:
- Application A583 –Country of Origin Labelling Requirements for Unpackaged Pork Products