Food Standards Notification Circular

18 August 2010

[18-10]

 

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 A1050 – Acyltransferase as a Processing Aid (Enzyme):   to seek approval for acyltransferase, produced from a genetically modified strain of Bacillus licheniformis, for use as an emulsifier [Received:   29 June 2010] [Applicant:   Danisco Australia Pty Ltd via Axiome Pty Ltd]

  • Application A1051 – Food derived from Herbicide-tolerant Soybean Event FG72:   To approve food derived from a genetically modified soybean with a tolerance to the herbicides glyphosate and isoxazole, to reduce cultivation needs [Received:   30 June 2010] [Applicant:   Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd]

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) 29 September 2010:

 

  • Application A1025 –Treatment of Dimethyl Dicarbonate as a Food Ingredient:   to address the current regulatory inconsistency relating to the status of dimethyl dicarbonate which is currently permitted as a food additive, but is neither present, nor active, in the final food

 

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