Food Standards Notification Circular
28 February 2012
[5-12]
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 Notifications from the notice below were published on 28 February 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
Approval and Forum notification
FSANZ has approved variations arising from the following Applications. FSANZ has notified this approval to the COAG Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation (Forum):
- ApplicationA1056 – Dimethyl Ether as a Processing Aid for Dairy Ingredients & Products
- Application A1060 – Food derived from Insect-protected Corn Line 5307
- Application A1062 –Dimethyl Ether as a Processing Aid for Non-dairy Ingredients & Products
Once FSANZ has notified the Forum of its decision, the Forum 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 Forum process is available at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/legislativeandgovernanceforumonfoodregulation/ .
Other matters
Taiwan withdraws its BSE Food Safety Application
On 15 February 2012, the Taiwanese Government notified FSANZ that it was withdrawing its application from the BSE food safety assessment and country categorisation process. The notification stated that beef of Taiwanese origin was unlikely to be exported to Australia in the future. As a result, FSANZ will discontinue the assessment and Taiwan will lose its current BSE country status.
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/