Standards Development

FOOD STANDARDS NOTIFICATION CIRCULAR

11 November 2008

[19-08]

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, proposals and other matters mentioned below, including assessment reports, processes and – where applicable – reasons for decisions, can be accessed on the FSANZ website at www.foodstandards.gov.au under<Standards Development>, then <Documents for Public Comment>and then.   Persons may contact FSANZ at one of the addresses below to arrange alternative access to these documents:

General questions on the work of FSANZ should be directed to the Information Officer at the either of the addresses above.   Queries concerning the matters in this Circular on assessment or submission processes should be directed to the Standards Management Officer at standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au .

PROGRESS ON APPLICATIONS AND PROPOSALS

Details on Approvals, notifications to Council and Council processes from the notice below were published on11 November 2008inThe AustralianandT heNew Zealand Heraldnewspapers, as well as on the FSANZ website.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

DRAFT ASSESSMENT – APPLICATIONS[s.17(2))as was in force prior to 1 July 2007]

(Received or prepared before 1 October 2007)

FSANZ received an Application for the development or variation of the following food regulatory measures; accepted the Application after making an Initial Assessment of it; will make a Draft Assessments of this Application; and invites written submissions on matters relevant to the Application to be made to FSANZ by6pm (Canberra time) 23 December 2008:

•    Application A588 – Voluntary Addition of Fluoride to Packaged Water:   to permit the voluntary addition of fluoride, as a claimable nutrient, to packaged waters at a maximum level of 0.6-1.0 mg/L

APPROVAL AND COUNCIL NOTIFICATION [s.34, s.41, s.53, s.64, s.69]

After consideration of draft standards or variations for the following Proposal, FSANZ decided to approve the draft variation, as amended.   FSANZ has given the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (Ministerial Council) written notification of this approval:

•  Proposal M1002 – Maximum Residue Limits (January, February, March 2008)[Australia only]

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.   Further information on the Ministerial Council process is available on the FSANZ website at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/standardsdevelopment/ministerialcouncilre1834.cfm .

MINISTERIAL COUNCIL REVIEW PROCESS – APPROVED DRAFT STANDARDS (s.21-23))

In accordance with these requirements, FSANZ has completed its First Review in relation to the following Application and Proposal.   FSANZ has re-affirmed its approval of the approved draft Standard (Application A552) and re-affirmed its approval of the approved draft Standard, subject to amendment (Proposal P306):

• Application A552 – Cadmium in Peanuts
• Proposal P306 – Addition of Inulin / FOS & GOS to Food

OTHER MATTERS

Key Email addresses

standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au for:

•   progress with the assessment of applications or proposals or completed applications
•   making an application
• Gazettal of amendments to the Code

submissions@foodstandards.gov.au for lodging submissions.

[Australia only] These matters relate to ‘Australia only’ standards that are not part of the joint regulatory arrangements with New Zealand.   However, food from Australia complying with these standards may be supplied in New Zealand.   If the matter is open for public comment, anyone may provide submissions in relation to these matters.