Food Standards Australia New Zealand

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

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 A1048 – Co-extruded Polystyrene & PVPP as a Processing Aid:  to permit the use of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) as a food additive (stabiliser) in wine   [Received:   3 June 2010] [Applicant:  BASF Australia Pty Ltd via Robert Forbes & Associates]

FSANZ has prepared the following Proposal and placed it on the FSANZ Food Standards Development Work Plan:

GENERAL PROCEDURE

• Proposal P1013–Code Maintenance IX:  to make amendments to Standards as considered necessary for reasons of clarification and to correct minor typographical errors or inconsistencies, including updating references, amendment or deletion of outdated provisions, correcting some typographical and formatting issues, and correcting cross references.

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.

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 measure by 6pm (Canberra time) 9 September 2010:

• Application A1044 – Pullulanase from Bacillus subtilis as a Processing Aid (Enzyme):   to permit the use of a new microbial source for pullulanase sourced from a genetically modified strain of Bacillus subtilis for use in the starch and alcohol industry

APPROVAL AND COUNCIL NOTIFICATION[s.34, s.64]

After consideration of draft variations for the following Application and Proposal, 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 A1036 – Lipase derived from Aspergillus niger as a Processing Aid (Enzyme)
• Proposal M1005 – Maximum Residue Limits (April-September 2009)[Australia only]

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

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

 

[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.