Food Standards Notification Circular
19 February 2010
[5-10]
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.au then <Food Standards>, then <Changing the Code>, then either <Documents for Public Comment>or
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 5636 Fax +64 4 473 9855 |
General questions on the work of FSANZ should be directed to the Information Officer at 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 Approvals and Ministerial Council notifications from the notice below were published on 19 February 2010 in The Australian and The New Zealand Herald newspapers, as well as on the FSANZ website.
General information on progress on all current applications and proposals is available in the FSANZ Food Standards Development Work Plan which is available on the FSANZ website at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/changingthecode/standardsworkplan.cfm .
APPROVAL AND COUNCIL NOTIFICATION[s.34, s.64]
After consideration of draft variations for the following Applications, FSANZ decided to approve the draft variations. FSANZ has given the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (Ministerial Council) written notification of these approvals:
- Application A1019 – Exclusive Use of Phytosterol Esters in Lower Fat Cheese Products
- Application A1024 – Equivalence of Plant Stanols, Sterols & their Fatty Acids Esters
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/foodstandards/changingthecode/ministerialcouncilre1834.cfm .
OTHER MATTERS
MINISTERIAL COUNCIL REVIEW PROCESS – APPROVED DRAFT STANDARDS
In accordance with requirements, FSANZ has completed its 1st Review in relation to the following Application. FSANZ has re-affirmed its approval of the approved draft Standards and given the Ministerial Council written notification of this approval:
- Application A1015 – Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate as a Food Additive
GAZETTAL – Amendment 114 Published
Amendment No. 114 to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code was published by FSANZ on 18 February 2010 (FSC 56). It included amendments resulting from the following Applications:
- Application A1006 – Food derived from Herbicide-tolerant Soybean Line DP-356043-5
- Application A1018 – Food derived from High Oleic Oil Soybean Line DP-305423-1
Recommencement of Proposal P242 – Foods for Special Medical Purposes
FSANZ is recommencing work on Proposal P242. The purpose of Proposal P242 is to develop a standard for formulated foods, which are foods that are used under medical or health professional supervision in the dietary management of chronic medical conditions or disability, or during acute illness, injury or disease. They include ‘complete nutrition’ formulas intended for use as the sole source of nutrition, as well as specialised dietary supplement formulas or foods, and very low energy diet formulas. Currently these foods are not explicitly recognised in the Code.
Proposal P242 has been deferred since 2004, pending the development of Ministerial Council policy guidance on the intent of Part 2.9 - Special Purpose Foods in the Code. This Policy Guideline was approved in October 2009.
As a first step to restarting the project, FSANZ plans to conduct targeted consultations with interested stakeholder groups, primarily for the purpose of collecting updated information on Australian and New Zealand foods for special medical purposes and their use in the community. FSANZ proposes to release a paper for public consultation later this year following these stakeholder discussions. This paper will include a revised draft Standard for foods for special medical purposes, and will address issues raised previously by submitters in response to the Preliminary Final Assessment Report (released in 2004).
For further information regarding this Proposal, previous reports for this project are available on the FSANZ website at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/proposals/proposalp242foodsforspecialmedicalpurposes/index.cfm or contact:
Derek Castles (Project Manager) – general inquiries
derek.castles@foodstandards.gov.au or telephone +61 2 6271 2663
Sue Cassidy – participation in the targeted consultations
sue.cassidy@foodstandards.gov.au or telephone +61 2 6271 2254
If you wish to be advised of any developments relating to the above, such as calls for public submissions, please contact the Standards Management Officer at standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au
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.
Food Regulation Secretariat
In accordance with the Food Regulation Agreement, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing is responsible for the provision of secretariat services to the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (Ministerial Council), the Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC) and the Implementation Sub-Committee (ISC).
The Food Regulation Secretariat sends information updates to stakeholders on a regular basis. If you would like to receive these updates (this is separate and in addition to updates from FSANZ), register your details on the Food Regulation Secretariat Stakeholder Database. A registration form is available on the website at http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/foodsecretariat-database.htm .
Alternatively, the Food Regulation Secretariat can be contacted on:
Phone: +61 2 6289 5128
Fax: +61 2 6289 5100
Postal Address: Food Regulation Secretariat
PO Box 4
WODEN ACT 2606