Comments wanted on proposed

amendments to Food Standards Code

The Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) today called for submissions from the public and other interested parties on three applications or proposals to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

The amendments would involve:

an exemption from labelling requirements for spirits and liqueurs destined for duty free sale;
the closure of a 'legal loophole' used by some manufacturers of fermented meat products to avoid cooking requirements; and
a request by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) to include a requirement that food imported into Australia is subject to the same labelling requirements as required for domestically produced food.

Labelling of duty-free spirits (comments by 14 March 2001)

Certain specialty spirit and liqueur products have been imported for many years for sale in duty-free stores. These products conform to general international labelling requirements, but many do not carry labelling which complies with Australian requirements, in particular, standard drinks labelling.

Until recently, AQIS has not enforced the relevant labelling provisions for spirits and liqueurs destined for sale in duty-free stores. However, AQIS has advised that, from 1 January 2001, it will consider such products to be 'failing foods' under the Imported Food Control Act.

The applicant is seeking to have spirits and liqueurs imported for duty-free sale to be exempt from certain labelling requirements of the Code, which would allow the products to be imported for duty-free sale.

Uncooked fermented meat (comments by 14 March 2001)

ANZFA developed specific legislation to regulate fermented meat products following a food poisoning fatality from mettwurst contaminated with Escherichia coli in South Australia in 1995.

The legislation required 'cooked' meats and meat products to have had 'their core temperature maintained at 65ºC for at least ten minutes or at an equivalent combination of time and temperature...' Some manufacturers are avoiding this requirement by claiming these conditions are met by consumers during cooking at home

ANZFA proposes amending the Code to require these cooking conditions during production.

Development of a labelling standard (comments by 14 March 2001)

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code prescribes what should appear on a food label, but it does not contain the fundamental requirement that food actually bear a label. This requirement is set out in State and Territory food legislation .

For AQIS, through its Imported Food Program, to carry out its role of enforcing the labelling provisions of the Food Standards Code for imported foods, the Code itself needs to require that a package of food carry a label.

In November 2000, ANZFA accepted an application to amend the Code and a recommendation was made to the Ministerial Council under the emergency provisions of Section 37 of the Australia New Zealand Food Authority Act. Section 37 allows a Standard to be approved because of possible public health and safety implications before public consultations are held. ANZFA is now holding that inquiry into this amendment.

Written submissions can be made to ANZFA on these three issues by 14 March 2001. Details can be found on the ANZFA website at www.foodstandards.gov.au or www.foodstandards.govt.nz or by contacting ANZFA directly by phone on 02 6271 2222 (Australia) and 04 473 9942 (New Zealand).