Food Standards Notification Circular
15 March 2010
[7-10]
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 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
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 .
NEW APPLICATIONS AND PROPOSALS
(Note that this section is not a call for public comment)
FSANZ has received the following Application; completed an Administrative Assessment of it; accepted it; and placed it on the FSANZ Food Standards Development Work Plan:
GENERAL PROCEDURE
- Application A1042–Food derived from herbicide-tolerant Corn Line DAS-40278-9: to approve food derived from herbicide-tolerant corn line genetically modified to provide resistance to broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D and other related chemicals [Received: 21 January 2010] [Applicant: Dow AgroSciences Australia Limited]
Information on the above, 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/foodstandards/changingthecode/standardsworkplan.cfm .
Administrative Assessment Reports can be accessed on the FSANZ website at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/applications/ or http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/proposals/ . 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 .
Please note that the above section is not a call for public comment.
OTHER MATTERS
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
Email: foodregulationsecretariat@health.gov.au
Food Labelling Review
The Committee conducting the Independent Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy is about to embark on the planned second round of public consultations in Australia and New Zealand. This Review, chaired by Dr Neal Blewett AC, is being conducted at the request of the Council of Australian Governments and the Ministerial Council. This public consultation period is an important opportunity for people to provide the Review Committee with specific information about ways to improve food labelling in Australia and New Zealand.
The Food Labelling Review Issues Consultation Paper summarises the issues that have been raised in the first round of submissions to the Review, as well as issues in the literature and media in recent years. This Paper elaborates on the Review’s Terms of Reference and has been prepared to stimulate thinking and debate. It is important to now take the next step in the Review process and begin thinking about the range of solutions and ideas to improve food labelling. The Food Labelling Review Issues Consultation Paper is available via www.foodlabellingreview.gov.au . The closing date for written submissions is 14 May 2010. Submissions that add to the deliberation and discussion (and meet the submission guidelines) will be made publicly available on the website.
As part of the consultation, the Review Committee will be holding public forums in Australia and New Zealand from 17 March to 7 May 2010. Members of the public are encouraged to take the opportunity to respond to the consultation questions, and to attend one of the public meetings. Stakeholders are invited to register on www.foodlabellingreview.gov.au to attend a public forum. The schedule is as follows:
Perth | Wednesday, 17 March 2010 |
Wellington | Thursday, 25 March 2010 |
Christchurch | Friday, 26 March 2010 |
Sydney | Monday, 29 March 2010 |
Hobart | Friday, 9 April 2010 |
Canberra | Monday, 12 April 2010 |
Darwin | Friday, 16 April 2010 |
Adelaide | Friday, 23 April 2010 |
Melbourne | Thursday, 29 April 2010 |
Brisbane | Friday, 7 May 2010 |
[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.