FOOD STANDARDS INFORMATION SERVICE
NOTIFICATION CIRCULAR 10/03
16 July 2003
Correction
Proposal P260 - Review of Medicinal Herbs, was incorrectly advertised for public comment in the Food Standards Notice in The Australian newspaper on Wednesday, 16 July 2003. The Proposal has not yet been released for public consultation. FSANZ apologises for any inconvenience.
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). All references below to sections of legislation, are to the FSANZ Act unless otherwise indicated.
Further information about the applications and proposals mentioned below, including assessment reports and - where applicable - reasons for decisions, can be accessed on the FSANZ website at www.foodstandards.gov.au under <Standards Developments> and then <Information Circulars> (links to the documents are contained in the relevant numbered Notification Circular). Members of the public may contact FSANZ at one of the addresses below to arrange alternative access to these documents:
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 FSANZ should be directed to the Information Officer at the address above. Queries concerning the matters in this Circular or application or submission processes should be directed to the Standards Management Officer at slo@foodstandards.gov.au .
PROGRESS ON APPLICATIONS AND PROPOSALS
NOTICES. The notice below was published on 16 July 2003 in The Australian and The New Zealand Herald newspapers as well as on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website.
INITIAL ASSESSMENT - APPLICATIONS [s.14(1)]
FSANZ received an application for the development or variation of the following food regulatory measure; accepted the Application after making an Initial Assessment of it; will make a Draft Assessment of this Application; and invites written submissions on matters relevant to the Application to be made to FSANZ by 27 August 2003:
- Application A505 – Diacylglycerol (Enova TM ) Oil as a Cooking Oil and Ingredient: to permit the use of Diacylglycerol oil as an ingredient in food products containing fats and oils.
INITIAL ASSESSMENT - PROPOSALS [s.14A(1)]
FSANZ has prepared a Proposal for the development or variation of the following food regulatory measure; will make a Draft Assessment of this Proposal; and invites written submissions on matters relevant to the Proposal to be made to FSANZ by 27 August 2003:
- Proposal P274 – Review of Minimum of Age Labelling of Foods for Infants : to review the minimum age labelling of infant foods
DRAFT ASSESSMENT – APPLICATIONS[s.17(2), s.17A(2)]
FSANZ has prepared draft food regulatory measures or variations for the following Applications; will make a Final Assessment in relation to each of these drafts; and invites written submissions for the purpose of making a Final Assessment by 27 August 2003:
- Application A459 – Geographic Indications to describe Spirits: seeking to ensure certainty, accuracy and truthfulness in the use of geographic indications to describe spirits *
- Application A463 – Copper Citrate as a Processing Aid: seeking approval of copper citrate (2% on a calcium bentonite base) as a processing aid in the production of wine*
- Application A476 – Acidified Sodium Chlorite as a Processing Aid:seeks to permit the use of acidified sodium chlorite as an anti-microbial intervention/processing aid for use on raw poultry, red meats and raw or cooked comminuted or formed meat products during processing
- Application A481 – Food derived from Glufosinate Ammonium tolerant Soybeans Lines A2704-12 and A5547-127: a soybean genetically modified to be resistant to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium.
- Application A482 - Plant Protein Products, Wine Processing Aid: to permit the use of plant proteins as alternative wine clarifying agents
- Application A492 – Lysophospholipase as a Processing Aid: to improve the filterability and process efficiencies during the production of glucose syrups and maltodextrins from the hydrolysis of wheat starch.
* Indicates a matter in relation to which FSANZ has decided not to hold a round of consultation between Initial and Draft Assessment, as it is satisfied that omitting to hold such consultation will not have a significant adverse effect on the interests of anyone/the Application raises issues of minor significance or complexity only (s. 36(1C)). A person whose interests are affected by this decision may: subject to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, make an application to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of FSANZ’s decision; and except where subsection 28(4) of that Act applies, in accordance with section 28, may apply for a statement in writing setting out the findings of material questions of fact, referring to the evidence or other materials on which those findings were based and giving the reasons for the decision.
PRELIMINARY FINAL ASSESSMENT – APPLICATIONS
FSANZ has made a Preliminary Final Assessment in relation to following Application; and invites written submissions for the purpose of making a Final Assessment by 13 August 2003:
- Application A452 – To allow the use of TwinSweet (TM): to permit TwinSweet, a chemical combination of aspartame and acesulfame-K use in food products.
FINAL ASSESSMENT AND COUNCIL NOTIFICATION – APPLICATIONS AND PROPOSALS – DRAFT STANDARDS [s.19(1), s.20(4A)]
After making Final Assessments in relation to draft standards or variations for the following Application and Proposal, FSANZ decided to approve the drafts under section 18 of the FSANZ Act. FSANZ has given the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (Ministerial Council) written notification of this approval.
- Proposal P251 - Uncooked Comminuted Fermented Meat
- Application A475 – Hexose Oxidase as a Processing Aid
EFFECT OF DIVISIONS 3 AND 4 OF PART 3 OF THE FSANZ ACT
A standard or variation approved by FSANZ does not become legally enforceable until:
- the Ministerial Council has been notified of the standard or variation; and
- the Ministerial Council process in relation to the standard or variation is finalised; and
- FSANZ has fulfilled the publication requirements under the FSANZ Act.
Once FSANZ has notified the Ministerial Council that it has approved the draft standard or variation, the Ministerial Council has 60 days to either request FSANZ to review the approved standard or inform FSANZ that it does not intend to request a review.
If the Ministerial Council requests a review, FSANZ must, within 3 months (or longer if the Ministerial Council allows), complete the review and notify the Ministerial Council of a decision to either:
- maintain its original approval; or
- to amend its approval; or
- withdraw its approval; and
- give the Ministerial Council FSANZ’s reasons for its decision.
If FSANZ has not withdrawn its approval, the Ministerial Council has another 60 days to either request a second review or inform FSANZ 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 FSANZ that the Ministerial Council does not intend to amend or reject the approved standard, or to amend or reject the approved standard.
If the Ministerial Council informs FSANZ that:
- it does not intend to request a review of the approved standard; or
- it does not intend to amend or reject the approved standard; or
- it has amended the approved standard after the second review;
FSANZ will publish a notice in the Commonwealth (published by FSANZ as the Food Standards Gazette) and New Zealand Gazettes and in newspapers stating when the standard or variation comes into effect. FSANZ 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.
APPLICATION WITHDRAWN [s.12A(2)]
The following Applications have been withdrawn:
- Application A343 - Labelling of Food described as Organic
- Application A473 - Patent Blue V
OTHER MATTERS
Amendment 66 Published
Amendment 66 to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code was published by FSANZ on 22 May 2003. It includes amendments resulting from the following Applications and Proposal:
- Application A438 – Gamma Cyclodextrin
- Application A466 – Transglucosidase
- Application A468 – MRLs (June-Sept 2002)
- Application A478 – Deletion of certain Brassica and leafy vegetable MRLs for Endosulfan
- Proposal P239 – Listeria Risk Assessment & Risk Management Strategy
New Standards Liaison Officer
Mrs Cathie Humphries has replaced Mr Peter Wallner as Standards Liaison Officer. She can be contacted on +61 2 6271 2280/2258.
