Food Standards Notification Circular
16 January 2012
[1-12]
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).
For information about progress on all current applications and proposals, including anticipated consultation opportunities, see the FSANZ Food Standards Development Work Plan http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/changingthecode/standardsworkplan.cfm .
PROGRESS ON APPLICATIONS AND PROPOSALS
Details on the Gazettals from the notice below were published on 16 January 2012 in The 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
NEW APPLICATIONS AND PROPOSALS
FSANZ has prepared the following Proposal. An opportunity to comment will be available at a later date which will be publicly notified.
Major procedure
- Proposal P1015– Primary Production & Processing Standard for Horticulture: to examine options for primary production and processing requirements for the raw horticultural produce sector.
Prepared: 15 December 2011
Call for submissions
General procedure
FSANZ invites written submissions on the assessment of the following Application by 6pm (Canberra time) 27 February 2012:
- Application A1066 – Food derived from Herbicide-tolerant Corn MON87427: to approve food derived from corn genetically modified to provide tissue-selective tolerance to glyphosate.
Other matters
Gazettal – Amendment No. 128
Amendment No.128 to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code was published by FSANZ on 12 January 2012 (FSC 70). It included amendments resulting from the following Application and Proposal:
- Application A1057 – Endo-protease (EC 3.4.21.26) as a Processing Aid (Enzyme)
- Proposal P1004 – Primary Production & Processing Standard for Seed Sprouts
Proposal P272 – Labelling Requirements for Food for Catering Purposes & Retail Sale
FSANZ had originally recommended prescribing the provision of use-by date information for food exempt from bearing a label when required for health or safety reasons e.g. deli products in an assisted service display cabinet. However, given concerns raised during the review process, FSANZ excised this from the scope of the Proposal. FSANZ stated that a future proposal would be prepared to resolve this outstanding issue about date marking.
Following targeted consultation with the food industry and jurisdictions, FSANZ has been unable find any evidence of a problem associated with foods exempt from bearing a label that could be resolved by requiring the provision of use-by date information. In addition, food suppliers currently have systems in place for managing possible food safety risks associated with foods exempt from bearing a label that often includes the provision of date marking information on pricing stickers.
On this basis, the FSANZ Board recently considered the need for a proposal to assess possible requirements for use-by date information for foods exempt from bearing a label and decided that no further action was required.
Amendment to Standard 1.4.2 – Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs)[Australia only]
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has notified FSANZ of applications or variations to the APVMA MRL Standard that the APVMA considers will likely result in variations to Standard 1.4.2 if they are granted.
More information on these notifications can be obtained at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/changingthecode/maximumresiduelimits/.\
Calls for public comment – Proposed variations to Standard 1.4.2
The APVMA has called for public comment on a number of proposed variations to Standard 1.4.2. Information can be found on the APVMA website at [ http://www.apvma.gov.au/publications/gazette/index.php ].
Gazettal of amendments to Standard 1.4.2
The APVMA has registered a number of amendments to Standard 1.4.2 on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments. For further information, go to http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Series/F2008B00619/Amendments.
Information Publication Scheme – Important information for applicants and submitters
Under the Information Publication Scheme all applications to change the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, as well as submissions on applications and proposals, will be published on our website.
We will not publish any material provided in-confidence. Applications will be published when we publicly notify FSANZ’s decision after an Administrative Assessment has been completed and the application has been accepted. Submissions will be published as soon as possible after the end of the public comment period. Where large numbers of documents are involved, FSANZ will make these available on CD, rather than on the website.
Contact us
If you wish to be advised of developments with any of the matters listed above or require more information about anything in this Circular, email standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au .
To make a submission or ask about submissions email submissions@foodstandards.gov.au .
If you have general questions about our work you can also write to us at:
The Information Officer | The Office Administrator |
Food Standards Australia New Zealand | Food Standards Australia New Zealand |
PO Box 7186 | PO Box 10559, The Terrace |
CANBERRA BC ACT 2610 | WELLINGTON 6143 |
AUSTRALIA | NEW ZEALAND |
Tel +61 2 6271 2241 Fax +61 2 6271 2278 | Tel +64 4 978 5630 Fax +64 4 473 9855 |
Food Regulation Secretariat
In accordance with the Food Regulation Agreement, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing is responsible for providing secretariat services to the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council, the Food Regulation Standing Committee and the Implementation Sub-Committee.
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
Previous Notification Circulars are available at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/changingthecode/notificationcirculars/ .