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FOOD STANDARDS INFORMATION SERVICE

INFORMATION CIRCULAR

03/02

22 August 2001

INFORMATION ON ANZFA

In Australia, general queries about the ANZFA 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 copies of all public documents available from the Authority including those referred to below.   They are also downloadable from the ANZFA 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:

PO Box 7186

PO Box 10559

Canberra Mail Centre    ACT    2610

WELLINGTON    6036

AUSTRALIA

NEW ZEALAND

Tel   (02) 6271 2222    Fax   (02) 6271 2278

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

PROGRESS ON APPLICATIONS AND PROPOSALS

NOTICES.  The notice below was published on 22 August 2001 in the following publications:

·         The Australian, The New Zealand Herald, The Dominion andThe Press; and

·         The Australia New Zealand Food Authority Website

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS - MATTERS AT FULL ASSESSMENT

The Authority has made a preliminary assessment, accepted the following applications and proposals for further consideration and will now make a full assessment.   You are invited to present written submissions to the Authority on these matters, including the potential regulatory impact on consumers, industry and government by 3 October 2001 or as otherwise indicated below.

CALL FOR SUBMISIONS - OTHER

MATTERS BEFORE COUNCIL

The Authority will make recommendations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council that the following variation to standards be adopted:

Note:

#These matters were progressed under s.36 of the ANZFA Act 1991.

*This matter was previously recommended to Council under s.37 of the ANZFA Act as a matter of urgency in order to avoid compromising the objectives set out in subsection 10(1)(a) of the Act, namely the protection of public health and safety. The Authority has completed an inquiry into the amendments to standards as required.

COUNCIL DECISIONS

The newly constituted Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council (ANZFSC), chaired by the Commonwealth Health Minister, Dr Michael Wooldridge, and including Ministers from other relevant portfolios such as agriculture and consumer affairs, met for the first time on 31 July 2001.   The Council has approved recommendations relating to:

GM Foods A382, A383, A384, A385, A386

Five genetically modified foods were approved.   They are insect-protected potato lines; insect and potato leafroll virus-protected potato lines; insect and potato virus y-protected potato lines; insect-protected corn; and insect-protected glufosinate ammonium tolerant BT-11 corn.

Antibiotic Maximum Residue Limits

Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for a range of antibiotics were agreed to.   These related to A339, A356, A361, A364, A365, A366, A374, A392, A401. Three other antibiotics, which belong to the cephalosporin group, were referred to the Expert Advisory Group on Antibiotic Resistance for further advice.   Professor John Turnidge, Chair of the Expert Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance confirmed to Ministers, that the agreed MRLs for antibiotics are set at such low concentrations that they are unlikely to result in the development of antibiotic resistance in humans.

Implementation of Joint Food Standards Code

Ministers also agreed that, while GM labelling will commence as expected on 7th December 2001, ANZFA should raise proposals to exempt stock-in-trade (already on retailers' shelves) from both GM and Joint Food Standards Code new labelling requirements.   In addition, the Ministers want ANZFA to explore whether this exemption should be only for 12 months from date of commencement (7th December 2001 for GM foods and December 2002 for the Joint Food Standards Code).