Food Standards Notification Circular
15 September 2008
[16-08]
This Notification Circular includes notices that are required to be given to the public, submitters and appropriate government agencies, under the Food 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.au under<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 15 September 2008 in The Australian and The New Zealand Herald newspapers, as well as on the FSANZ website.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
URGENT PROPOSAL[s.100]
After consideration of the draft variation resulting from the following urgent Proposal, FSANZ approved the draft under section 97 of the FSANZ Act. The variation was gazetted in Amendment No. 99 to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (FSC 41) which was published by FSANZ on 26 June 2008. The variation also took effect on this date. FSANZ has now assessed this Standard and invites written submissions on matters relevant to the Proposal to be made to FSANZ by 6pm (Canberra time) 27 October 2008:
- Proposal P1006 – Remove Commencement Provision for Certain Special Purpose Infant Formula: to amend clause 27 of Standard 2.9.1 - Infant Formula Products to remove a commencement provision (subclause 27(3) and consequently, subclause 27(2)) that may constrain manufacturers from specifically formulating infant formula products for metabolic, immunological, renal, hepatic and malabsorptive conditions
INITIAL ASSESSMENT – APPLICATIONS[s.14(1)as was in force prior to 1 July 2007]
(Received or prepared before 1 October 2007)
FSANZ received applications for the development or variation of the following food regulatory measures; accepted the Applications after making Initial Assessments of them; will make Draft Assessments of these Applications; and invites written submissions on matters relevant to the Applications to be made to FSANZ by 6pm (Canberra time) 27 October 2008:
- Application A603 – Red 3 Erythrosine in Food Colouring Preparations: to permit the use of Red 3 Erythrosine as a colouring for icing [Received 29 March 2007]
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 subject to amendment. FSANZ has given the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (Ministerial Council) written notification of this approval:
- Proposal P1002 – Hydrocyanic Acid in Ready-to-eat Cassava Chips
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 .
GAZETTAL
Amendment 101 Published
Amendment No. 101 to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code was published by FSANZ on 14 August 2008 (FSC 43). It included amendments resulting from the following Applications and Proposal:
- Application A566 – L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate, Calcium as a Permitted Vitamin Form of Folate
- Application A570 – Ferric Sodium Edetate as a Permitted Form of Iron
- Application A607 – Maximum Residue Limits (April, May, June 2007) [Australia only]
- Application A610 – Maximum Residue Limits (July, August 2007) [Australia only]
- Application A612 – Maximum Residue Limits – Dimetridazole (Antibiotic) [Australia only]
- Proposal M1001 – Maximum Residue Limits (September, October, November, December 2007) [Australia only]
A number of amendments relating to Editorial Notes were also included in this Gazettal. These were originally included in Proposal P1001 – Omnibus VII. An amendment to an Editorial note in Standard 2.2.1 is also being made.
OTHER MATTERS
After making an Administrative Assessment of the following Application, FSANZ decided to reject the Application as it did not meet the mandatory format and information requirements of Part 3 of the FSANZ Application Handbook:
- Potential Application A1013 – Extension of Mandatory GM Labelling Requirements: to significantly extend the current provisions as they relate to labelling of genetically modified foods
Key Email addresses
standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au for:
- progress with the assessment of applications or proposals or completed applications
- making an application
- Gazettal of amendments to the Code
submissions@foodstandards.gov.au for lodging submissions.
Amendments to the FSANZ Act
Major amendments to the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 passed the Australian Parliament on 20 June 2007 and were proclaimed on 1 July 2007. These amendments affect how FSANZ assesses applications received and proposals prepared to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Codef rom 1 October 2007 onwards. Further information on these changes is available from the FSANZ website at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/standardsdevelopment/informationforapplicants/index.cfm .
[Australia only] These matters relate to ‘Australia only’ standards that are not part of the joint regulatory arrangements with New Zealand. However, food from Australia complying with these standards may be supplied in New Zealand. If the matter is open for public comment, anyone may provide submissions in relation to these matters.