3364
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
No. 139

General

Australia New Zealand Food Authority

Australia New Zealand Food Authority Act 1991

Australia New Zealand Food Authority—Food Standards

The following notice is made, pursuant to the Australia New Zealand Food Authority Act 1991. All correspondence, including requests for further information on the matter detailed below, should be forwarded to the following:

Standards Liaison Officer
Australia New Zealand Food Authority
P.O. Box 7186
CANBERRA MAIL CENTRE ACT 2610
AUSTRALIA
Tel: (00 61 06) 271 2219
Fax: (00 61 06) 271 2278

or

Standards Liaison Officer,
Australia New Zealand Food Authority
P.O. Box 10-559
The Terrace
WELLINGTON 6036
NEW ZEALAND
Tel: (04) 473 9942
Fax: (04) 473 9855

Notice Pursuant to Section 24

Inquiry into Transitional Arrangements for the Australia New Zealand Food Standards System

In June 1996, the then National Food Authority undertook a full assessment of proposal P137 under section 23 of the National Food Authority Act 1991 (the Act) and prepared a new standard, Standard T1, to implement the transitional arrangements contained in the agreement between Australia and New Zealand establishing a system for the development of joint food standards.

On 19 June 1996, the authority published a notice indicating that it had decided, under section 37 of the Act, to omit to publish a notice seeking submissions in relation to the draft Standard T1. In that notice the authority stated that it had recommended that the National Food Standards Council adopt Standard T1 as a matter of urgency, in order to avoid comprising the objectives set out in section 10, and in particular the promotion of fair trade in food and the promotion of trade and commerce in the food industry.

On 19 June 1996, the then National Food Standards Council adopted Standard T1 without the authority holding an inquiry. Under sections 37 of the Act, the authority must hold an inquiry into the draft variation as soon as practicable after the council has adopted the draft variation. The authority is now conducting an inquiry into the draft variations, namely Standard T1.

The transitional arrangements contained in Standard T1 mean that foods imported from New Zealand, which comply with the New Zealand Food Regulations 1984, can be sold in Australia, provided they meet Australian requirements relating to residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals and with Australian requirements relating to maximum levels of the metal cadmium. These arrangements entered into force from 1 July 1996.

Standard T1 also contains some temporary provisions intended to ensure Australian industry is not disadvantaged by the transitional arrangements pending the development of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. These temporary provisions are being reviewed as part of the inquiry.

The authority invites written submissions containing technical or other relevant information which will assist the authority in undertaking the inquiry from interested individuals and organisations by 23 October 1996.

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Australia New Zealand Food Authority—Food Standards

Matters at Full Assessment

The authority has made a preliminary assessment, has accepted the following proposal and will now make a full assessment.

Proposed food hygiene standard (P145). The authority developed a proposal to introduce a new, national food hygiene standard to apply to all food businesses in Australia covered by the Food Standards Code. Although this proposal would not apply directly to primary food production, it would eventually have implications for this sector.

Food hygiene regulations are outside the food standard setting system the authority currently administers. They are presently developed and enforced separately by the states and territories.

The proposed food hygiene standard would require all food businesses, that can identify one or more food safety hazards, to develop and implement a food safety programme. The detail and scope of these programmes would vary according to the size and nature of the business and the level of risk posed to the community.

The proposed standard would promote a preventative rather than a reactive approach to food safety and ensure the same hygiene requirements operate throughout Australia. Implementation of the standard would be phased in over a 6-year period using criteria based on the risk classification of food businesses.

Please send written submissions on relevant matters to one of the addresses below by 13 December 1996.

Matters at Inquiry

The authority has completed full assessments of the following application and proposal and will now conduct inquiries.

Xylanase in baked products including bread (A304). Received on 25 March 1996, from Novo Nordisk Bioindustrial Pty Limited this application seeks approval for use of the enzyme hemicellulase endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) in baked goods, including bread.

Hemicellulase endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) is produced using recombinant DNA techniques from a strain of Aspergillus oryzae carrying the gene coding for the enzyme from Thermomyces lanuginosus.

The authority has prepared a draft variation to Standard A16—Processing Aids, to permit the of hemicellulase endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) as a processing aid.