Food Standards Notification Circular

 23 July 2010

[16-10]

 

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

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

Email:   information@foodstandards.gov.au

Email:   information@foodstandards.govt.nz

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 A1049 – Food from Herbicide-tolerant, High Oleic Acid Soybean Line MON 87705:   to seek permission for food derived from soybean genetically modified to contain an improved fatty acid profile   [Received:   4 June 2010] [Applicant:   Monsanto 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

Rejection of Application

After making an Administrative Assessment of the following Application, FSANZ decided to reject the Application as it did not meet the mandatory information requirements of Part 3 of the FSANZ Application Handbook:

 

  • Application A1052 – Extension of Use of Natamycin:   To extend the use of natamycin as an antimycotic preservative in milk and milk products, bread and bakery products [Received:   30 June 2010] [Applicant:   DSM Food Specialties]

 

Application A576 – Labelling of Alcoholic Beverages with a Pregnancy Health Advisory Label.

 Last year, we advised that a Draft Assessment Report would be prepared mid-2010.   As the independent Review on Food Labelling Law and Policy is also considering alcohol labelling, we are delaying further consideration of this Application until the Review is completed.  Further information in relation to the Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy is available at http://www.foodlabellingreview.gov.au/internet/foodlabelling/publishing.nsf/content/home .

It is now anticipated that work will resume on this Application in 2011, following consideration of the outcomes of the Labelling Review by the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council and the Council of Australian Governments.

 

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