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. Persons may contact FSANZ at one of the addresses below to arrange alternative access to these documents:

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 PROPOSAL

Details on Approvals and Gazettals from the notice below were published on 5 July 2010 inThe 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 .

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

GENERAL PROCEDURE

Assessment – Applications[s.31]

FSANZ has assessed and prepared a draft food regulatory measure for the following Application; will further consider the draft; and invites written submissions for the purpose of either approving, amending or rejecting the draft food regulatory measureby 6pm (Canberra time) 16 August 2010:

• Application A1040 –Food derived from Insect-resistant & Herbicide-tolerant Cotton Line GHB119:   to seek permission for food derived from cotton genetically modified to provide resistance to Lepidopteran insect pests and tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate ammonium

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 A1029 – Food derived from Drought-tolerant Corn Line MON87460
• Application A1035 – Food derived from Insect-protected Soybean MON 87701

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

GAZETTAL – Amendment 117 Published

Amendment No. 117 to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code was published by FSANZ on 1 July 2010 (FSC 59). It included amendments resulting from the following Applications:

• Application A603 – Red 3 Erythrosine in Food Colouring Preparations
• Application A1021 – Food derived from Herbicide-tolerant Maize Line DP-098140-6
• Application A1032 – ß-Galactosidase as a Processing Aid (Enzyme)
• Application A1033 – Maltotetraohydrolase as a Processing Aid (Enzyme)

FSANZ Application Handbook

The latest version of the FSANZ Application Handbook (as at 1 July 2010) is available on the FSANZ website at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/standardsdevelopment/informationforapplicants/ .   The Explanatory Statement relating to the amendments made for this version is available at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/changingthecode/informationforapplicants/consultationopportun3880.cfm .

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