The Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) today [Wednesday] called for public comment on a number of proposed changes to the Food Standards Code, including new requirements for making nutrition claims, an extension to the folate/neural tube defect claim and a review of the standard governing salami and similar smallgoods.
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ANZFA’s Managing Director Ian Lindenmayer said the public consultation process was an important part of developing food regulations.
“I invite interested individuals or organisations to examine the reports posted on the ANZFA website and to comment on the options being proposed,” Lindenmayer said.
“Our system of reviewing and developing food regulations is one of the most transparent and inclusive in the world.
“Information and commentary provided by scientific bodies, food companies and community groups are of vital importance in our work. Such inputs help to ensure that we take full account of the full range of scientific information on the safety and nutritional properties of each food and the implications for both the food industry and consumers.”
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By GlobalDataNutrition content claims (P234) (submissions by 10 May 2002)
Nutrition content and related claims – such as ‘low fat’, ‘reduced salt’ and ‘lite’ – are regulated through an industry Code of Practice on Nutrition Claims in Food Labels and in Advertisements (CoPoNC) in Australia and the New Zealand Food Regulations (1984) in New Zealand.
ANZFA is now proposing to define nutrition content claims and criteria in the Food Standards Code. The amended standard would bring requirements in Australia and New Zealand into line and be consistent with fair trading laws.
Extension of the folate health claim (P255) (submissions by 29 March 2002)
At present, Australia and New Zealand have a prohibition on the use of health claims on foods. An exception to this prohibition is the folate/neural tube defect health claim, which was approved by the Ministerial Council to operate as a pilot project until August 2002.
It appears unlikely that final decisions will be taken by August 2002 on the future approach to health claims. ANZFA is therefore recommending that the folate health claim be extended until 13 February 2004 or on commencement of a generic health claims standard, whichever occurs sooner.
Uncooked salami and mettwurst – Australia only (P251) (submissions by 24 April 2002)
In response to the outbreak of food poisoning relating to the consumption of mettwurst produced by the Garibaldi company in South Australia in 1995, the Food Standards Council has previously approved emergency changes to the Food Standards Code specifying microbiological limits for E. coli bacteria in uncooked comminuted fermented meat (UCFM)
products.
A study by the Meat and Livestock Australia Limited has concluded that many UCFM processes used in Australia or overseas cannot comply with requirements of the Code. ANZFA has therefore commenced a review of the emergency provisions put in place in 1995 to see if they are effective in protecting public health and safety, and capable of auditors’
verification.
Limits for chemical residues in food – Australia only (A445, P261 – submissions by 10 April 2002; A455, A460 – submissions by 24 April 2002)
The National Registration Authority for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (NRA) approves the use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals. NRA has applied to ANZFA to incorporate in the Food Standards Code maximum residue limits (MRLs) for a number of chemicals in foods. ANZFA ensures that the residues associated with the MRLs do not represent an unacceptable risk to public health and safety through the food supply and, if satisfied, recommends their incorporation into the Food Standards Code.
These applications and proposal seek to include, amend, reduce and delete MRLs for a range of chemicals in a range of foods.
Minor changes to the Food Standards Code (P254) (submissions by 24 April 2002)
Since publication of Volume 2 of the new Food Standards Code in December 2000, a number of errors of minor significance or complexity have been identified which require correction. These include typographical errors, inconsistencies, misspellings, grammatical errors, omissions, deletions and corrections to tables. This Proposal seeks to address these errors.
None of the changes represents any substantive change to regulatory permissions or obligations.
Further information: Reports associated with all the above Applications and Proposals can be accessed on the ANZFA website at www.anzfa.gov.au.
