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Call for comment on using enzymes to produce food additive sweeteners

Call for comment on using enzymes to produce food additive sweeteners Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application for the production of food additive sweeteners, steviol glycosides, through bioconversion. The steviol glycosides - rebaudioside M and rebaudioside I - are manufactured using three protein engineered enzymes not currently permitted for such use.   FSANZ CEO Dr Sandy Cuthbert said the steviol glycosides sweeteners are equivalent to others already permitted for use in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code but  have a different method of production. “If approved, these steviol glycosides will be used as a low-calorie sweetener in a range of food products consistent with other permissions,' Dr Cuthbert said. “Steviol glycosides can be sourced from the South…

Published 20 July 2023

Application A1059 - Pectin-derived Oligosaccharides as a Novel Food

Application A1059 - Pectin-derived Oligosaccharides as a Novel Food This Application seeks to approve pectin-derived oligosaccharides as a novel food for exclusive use in infant formula, and foods and supplementary foods for young children. This application was withdrawn by the applicant on 19 July 2012 Page last updated: 13 February 2025

Published 22 June 2013

A1263 - Rhodomonas salina biomass and extract as a novel food

A1263 - Rhodomonas salina biomass and extract as a novel food   Page last updated: 13 February 2025

Published 12 January 2023

Technical Assessment - Carbohydrate claims about food containing alcohol

Technical Assessment - Carbohydrate claims about food containing alcohol In November 2017, the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation (the Forum) discussed sugar claims in relation to alcoholic beverages. The meeting communiqué stated that Forum ministers are aware of an increasing number of alcoholic beverages for sale in Australia and New Zealand with the claim they are '% sugar-free'. It also stated that ministers are concerned that these claims on alcoholic beverages are misleading and that alcohol is being promoted as a healthier choice for consumers when public health advice is to limit alcohol intake.  Ministers asked us to review…

Published 14 September 2018

Proposal P278 - Use of Nicotine and Nicotiana Species in Food

Proposal P278 - Use of Nicotine and Nicotiana Species in Food Final Assessment Report - 4 August 2004 [ pdf 364kb ] Draft Assessment Report - 17 March 2004  Initial Assessment Report - 8 October 2003 [ pdf 343kb ]   Page last updated: 13 February 2025

Published 23 March 2013

Call for comment on latest Food Standards Code maintenance proposal

Call for comment on latest Food Standards Code maintenance proposal Published 31 May 2024 Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on a proposal to make minor amendments to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. FSANZ periodically prepares a proposal to correct typographical errors, omissions, inconsistencies and formatting issues in the Code. Proposal P1063 will correct a typographical error and remove a redundant term from the conditions for no added sugar(s) claims gazetted under Proposal P1062 - Defining added sugars for claims. To have your say about this proposal, see our call for comment page. Submissions close at 6pm (AEDT) on 27 June 2024. What happens to my feedback? Submissions will be published to our website as soon as possible after the end of the public comment period. FSANZ will consider…

Published 31 May 2024

Reviews of food-health relationships for high level health claims

Reviews of food-health relationships for high level health claims Standard 1.2.7 - Nutrition, health and related claims includes requirements for making high level health claims. High level health claims must be based on a food-health relationship pre-approved by FSANZ. These relationships are listed in Schedule 4 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code). New food-health relationships for high level health claims can only be included in Schedule 4 following assessment of an application or proposal to change the Code. This assessment includes a systematic review of the evidence supporting the food-health relationship, in accordance with the high level health claims variation procedure in the FSANZ Act 1991. Reviews of existing high level health claims in Schedule…

Published 12 January 2023

Call for comment on latest Food Standards Code maintenance proposal

Call for comment on latest Food Standards Code maintenance proposal Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on a proposal to make minor amendments to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Proposal P1065 includes amendments to:

• correct an error in the compositional fat requirements for Special Medical Purpose Product for infants, to ensure they align with current requirements for infant formula
• correct other omissions, inconsistencies, formatting issues and typographical errors
• update references.

Published 6 November 2025

Food derived from GM plants containing stacked genes

Food derived from GM plants containing stacked genes (August 2019) What is gene stacking? Gene stacking refers to the process of combining genes of interest into a single plant line. It is used in conventional as well as genetically modified (GM) crops to develop improved lines. A stacked GM line contains at least two novel genes. Stacked genes are sometimes referred to as stacked events; gene stacking as gene pyramiding How are the genes combined? Traditional plant breeding is the most common way to stack novel genes in GM crops. Individual GM plant lines, each expressing a desired trait or multiple traits, are cross fertilised to produce a new generation of plants exhibiting the traits of the parent lines. Examples of stacked GM lines generated using traditional breeding include:

• Roundup…

  Published 21 August 2019

Call for comment on the 12 month review of the kava food standard

Call for comment on the 12 month review of the kava food standard Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on the 12 month review of the kava standard.  In March 2022, the FSANZ Board approved a variation to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) after considering an urgent proposal to clarify the existing permission for kava.   Under the urgent proposal provisions, FSANZ has assessed the resulting variation and is calling for submissions to help decide whether to reaffirm the variation or prepare a proposal to amend or repeal the variation.   The purpose of the review is to ensure provisions for kava in the Code continue to protect public health and safety after Australia lifted the ban on commercial importation of kava from 1 December 2021.¯ …

Published 10 December 2021