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FOOD STANDARDS INFORMATION SERVICE

INFORMATION CIRCULAR 01/03 

21 August 2002

INFORMATION ON FOOD STANDARDS AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND (FSANZ)

In Australia, general queries about FSANZ should be directed to the Information Officer at the Authority's Canberra office. In New Zealand, the Authority's office in Wellington should be contacted.

These offices can provide people without access to internet facilities copies of all public documents available from the Authority including those referred to below.   They are also downloadable from the FSANZ home page.   Copies of papers relating to applications or proposals referred to within this Information Circular can be directly viewed through the link provided.

More detailed information on the standards making within the Authority can be directed to the Standards Liaison Officer at one of the following addresses:

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   (02) 6271 2241  Fax   (02) 6271 2278

Tel   (04) 473 9942   Fax   (04) 473 9855

Email:   info@foodstandards.gov.au

Email:   info@foodstandards.govt.nz

General questions on the work of the Authority should be directed to the Information Officer as indicated above.   Queries concerning the matters in this Circular or the application or submission processes should be directed to the Standards Liaison Officer.

PROGRESS ON APPLICATIONS AND PROPOSALS

NOTICES.  The notice below was published on 21 August 2002 inThe Australian and  TheNew Zealand Herald newspapers as well as on the  Food Standards Australia New Zealand website.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS - MATTERS GOING TO DRAFT ASSESSMENT

The Authority has made an Initial Assessment and accepted the following application, and will be making a Draft Assessment of it:  

The Authority has also prepared the following proposal and will be making a Draft Assessment of it:

You are invited to present written submissions to the Authority on issues relevant to these matters by 2 October 2002.

  CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS - MATTERS GOING TO FINAL ASSESSMENT

After making a Draft Assessment of the following matter, the Authority has prepared a draft food regulatory measure and will be conducting a Final Assessment in relation to this draft.  

You are invited to present written submissions to the Authority for consideration in the Final Assessment of this matter by 18 September 2002 . 

DECISIONS NOTIFIED TO COUNCIL

The Authority has made Final Assessments of draft standards and variations to standards in relation to the applications and proposals outlined below.   The Authority has approved the drafts under section 18 of the FSANZ[d1]   Act and has given written notification of its approval to the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (Ministerial Council).

A standard or variation approved by the Authority does not become legally enforceable until:

Once the Authority has notified the Ministerial Council that it has approved the draft standard or variation, the Ministerial Council has 60 days to either request the Authority to review the approved standard or inform the Authority that it does not intend to request a review.

If the Ministerial Council requests a review, the Authority must within 3 months (or longer if the Ministerial Council allows) complete the review and notify the Ministerial Council of a decision to either:

If the Authority has not withdrawn its approval, the Ministerial Council has another 60 days to either request a second review or inform the Authority that it does not intend to request a second review.   If the Ministerial Council requests a second review, the procedures and timeframe are the same as for the first review.   Once an approved standard has been reviewed twice, the Ministerial Council has 60 days to inform the Authority that the Council does not intend to amend or reject the approved standard, or to amend or reject the approved standard.  

If the Ministerial Council informs the Authority that:

the Authority will publish a notice in the Commonwealth (published by FSANZ as the Food Standards Gazette) and New ZealandGazettesand in newspapers stating when the Standard comes into effect.   The Authority will also publish this notice along with the text of the Standard on the FSANZ website and make copies of these available for inspection by the public.   The Standard becomes legally effective on the date specified in the notice.

#  Indicates matters progressed with one round of public consultation under s.36 of the ANZFA Act as the Authority was satisfied that they raised issues of minor significance or complexity only.   Subject to theAdministrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, application may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of the decision (under section 36) by a person whose interests are affected by the decision.

*These matters relate toAustralia onlystandards that are not part of the joint regulatory arrangements with New Zealand however, food from Australia complying with these standards may be supplied in NZ.   Anyone may provide submissions in relation to these matters.

OTHER MATTERS

Users Guides Finalised

The following two user guides, which had been available as draft documents, have now been finalised and will be published on the FSANZ website:

Proposal for Raw Milk Very Hard Cheeses

The Authority has prepared proposal number P263 to assess the safety of raw milk very hard cooked-curd (Parmesan style) cheeses.   A draft assessment will be made available for comment on the FSANZ website in the near future.