22 March 2005
FSANZ considers changes to food code
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today invited individuals and organisations with an interest in theAustralia New Zealand Food Standards Codeto comment on proposed changes to the Code.
The changes include recommendations to approve the sale of Roquefort cheese made from raw sheep’s milk, food derived from a genetically modified corn and the use of an ice-structuring protein in ice cream and edible ices, and to amend the current requirements for the country of origin labelling of food.
Before changes can be made to the Food Standards Code, FSANZ gives the community two opportunities to provide information or express an opinion on the scientific, public health, economic or social factors involved in making a change.
The FSANZ Board approves changes to the Code primarily to protect public health and safety, but also to ensure that manufacturers supply consumers with appropriate information about the content of a food product and do not deceive consumers by misleading advertising.
Assessment reports for the items listed below can be found on the FSANZ website at www.foodstandards.gov.au .
Comments should reach FSANZ byWednesday 4 May 2005.
Sale of Roquefort cheese made from raw sheep’s milk (Application A499 – Draft Assessment) – Australia only
The Food Standards Code requires that milk and milk products for cheese production should be heat-treated to manage potential microbiological hazards. However, the Code allows the sale of raw milk cheeses where they have been assessed to have an equivalent level of safety as cheeses made from heat-treated milk. The French Government has applied for approval for the sale of Roquefort cheese made from raw sheep’s milk. This application applies specifically to Roquefort cheese and not to all raw milk blue cheeses.
FSANZ has conducted a scientific evaluation of the safety of Roquefort cheese. It has concluded that if Roquefort cheese is manufactured according to the schedule of regulatory and industry processes provided by the French Government, it poses a low risk to the health and safety of consumers. FSANZ is considering allowing the sale of Roquefort cheese and invites comment on the scientific evaluation, trade implications and labelling requirements.
Country of Origin labelling of food (Proposal P292 – Draft Assessment)
In 2000, after Australia and New Zealand moved from their own food regulations to a jointAustralia New Zealand Food Standards Code, temporary provisions for the country of origin labelling of food were included in the Code. The intention was to review the temporary provisions to ensure that they were consistent with WTO obligations of the two countries and with fair trading legislation.
In 2003, the ministerial council responsible for food directed that there should be a mandatory declaration of country of origin to assist consumers to select food products.
FSANZ has identified five regulatory options in the Draft Assessment report. Its preferred option applies to all packaged and some unpackaged foods. FSANZ invites food manufacturers and consumer groups to comment on potential impacts of this option. The Draft Assessment report also contains a draft user guide, which may assist potential submitters.
Food derived from insect-protected, herbicide–tolerant corn (Application A543 – Draft Assessment)
Dow AgroSciences has applied to FSANZ seeking approval for food derived from insect-protected, glufosinate ammonium-tolerant corn line DAS-59122-7. This is a genetically modified corn and, as such, requires FSANZ to conduct a pre-market safety assessment before it can be sold in Australia and New Zealand.
FSANZ’s safety assessment has not identified any public health or safety issues connected with this application. It has determined that, in terms of safety for human consumption and nutritional adequacy, this GM corn is equivalent to food from other commercially available corn varieties. Individuals and organisations with an interest in GM matters may view the scientific evaluation at www.foodstandards.gov.au .
Comments are welcomed.
Ice structuring protein as a processing aid (Application A544 – Draft Assessment)
Unilever Australia Limited has requested that an ice structuring protein (ISP) be approved as a processing aid for the manufacture of ice cream and edible ices. The ISP alters the ice crystal structure and hence the properties of the commercial product, including the thermal stability, hardness, creaminess and flavour delivery.
The ISP is produced from a genetically modified bakers’ yeast. The ISP is identical to a fish protein that is found in nature and is already in the food supply. FSANZ has identified no public health or safety concerns with its proposed use and believes that its use is technologically justified. FSANZ welcomes comments on its intention to recommend the ISP as an approved processing aid.
Maximum Residue Lmits for agricultural and veterinary chemicals (Application A547 – Draft Assessment) – Australia only
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has applied to FSANZ seeking to amend Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for a number of agricultural and veterinary chemicals in the Code. Before FSANZ recommends an MRL, the agency must be satisfied that the estimated dietary exposure to the potential residue of the relevant chemical does not represent an unacceptable risk to public health and safety. A list of the proposed MRLs is given in the Draft Assessment report.
Media contact: Lydia Buchtmann on 0401 714 265 (Australia) or
+61 401 714 265 (from New Zealand).