Proposal P262 - Minor Amendments Omnibus to Volume 2 of the Food Standards Code No. 3
20 November 2002
FINAL ASSESSMENT REPORT (s.36)
Full Report [ pdf 169 kb ]
Executive Summary and Statement of Reasons
Issues
The Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) prepared two minor omnibus Proposals, P245 and P254, to correct errors of minor significance or complexity identified in Volume 2 of the Food Standards Code (Volume 2). The Final Assessment Reports for P245 and P254 were submitted to and approved by the ANZFA Board at the February 2002 and June 2002 meetings respectively.
This separate Proposal, has been initiated to address other minor amendments that were not included in P254 due to time constraints or for new amendments that have since arisen. These amendments are also to correct errors of minor significance or complexity in Volume 2. These amendments include inconsistencies, misspellings, grammatical errors including clarifications, insertion of omissions and updating . The proposed draft variations contained in this Proposal have been prepared to correct minor errors identified since adoption of Volume 2.
A number of these issues are needed to be resolved before the repeal of the Australian Food Standards Code (Volume 1) and the New Zealand Food Regulations 1984 in December 2002 when Volume 2 will become the sole food regulatory code for both Australia and New Zealand.
Consultation
Under Section 36 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand 1991, (FSANZ Act) the Authority has decided to omit one round of public consultation as it is satisfied that the Proposal raises issues of minor significance and complexity only, and that omitting to invite public consultation at the Initial Assessment stage would not have a significant adverse effect on the interests of concerned parties.
ANZFA to FSANZ transitional requirements for a proposal at Full (Draft) assessment stage have been followed and no additional submissions have been received.
The Initial / Draft Assessment Report went out for one round of public comment. Twelve submissions were received. Seven submissions agreed with the amendments or had no further comments. Four of these seven supported the addition of the INS number to the intense artificial sweetener, neotame.
Two submissions strongly opposed the proposed amendment relating to the definition of liqueur, believing the amendment was not of a minor nature. FSANZ has decided to remove this amendment from this Proposal and to initiate a future separate proposal to assess this topic.
Some of the amendments have been slightly altered in consideration of comments received in submissions to make the drafting more consistent.
Conclusion and Statement of Reasons
- The proposed draft variations in this Proposal have been prepared to correct errors of minor significance and complexity (including inconsistencies, misspellings, grammatical errors including clarifications, insertion of omissions and updating) identified in Volume 2. Public health and safety will be maintained by ensuring minor errors are amended and that there is consistency in Volume 2.
- Public submissions received on the Draft Assessment Report requested some changes to the proposed amendments therefore the drafting for some of the amendments have been slightly altered to maintain consistency.
- Two submitters expressed strong opposition to item 6.11.1 relating to a proposed amendment to the liqueur definition within Standard 2.7.5 - Spirits. FSANZ will therefore not progress this item as a minor matter and will address this issue in a separate new proposal.
Full Report [ pdf 169 kb ]