16 OCTOBER

NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

General

Australia New Zealand Food Authority

Australia New Zealand Food Authority Act 1991

Australia New Zealand Food Authority—Food Standards

The Australia New Zealand Food Authority advises progress on the following matters relating to the Australian Food Standards Code.

You can get further information on each of these matters in information papers which are available from:

The Information Officer
Australia New Zealand Food Authority
P.O. Box 10-559
WELLINGTON 6036
Telephone: (04) 473 9942
Facsimile: (04) 473 9855
Email: anzfa.nze@anzfa.gov.au

Matters at Full Assessment

The authority has made preliminary assessments, accepted the following applications and proposals, and will now make full assessments of them:

Caffeine in Non Alcoholic Beverages (A344). An application from Kensington Swan, legal advisers, New Zealand received on 9 July 1997 to extend the permitted uses of caffeine so as to allow the same uses for caffeine in Australia that are currently permitted in the New Zealand Food Regulations.

Maximum residue limits (A347). An application received on 20 August 1997 from the National Registration Authority to amend maximum residue limits (MRLs) for a number of agricultural chemicals in Australia. In accordance with the transitional arrangements for food standards between Australia and New Zealand, individual country MRLs for agricultural and veterinary chemicals continue to apply for these standards and this application proposes changes for MRLs for food sold in Australia, whether imported or domestically produced.

You are invited to present written submissions to the authority on matters relevant to these applications, including the potential regulatory impact on consumers, industry and Government, by 26 November 1997. The information papers on these matters provide further information, including advice on the authority’s policy regarding submissions.

Representational Issues: Pictorial representations (P155). A proposal to consider the most appropriate regulatory framework for pictorial representations. Given the flexibility required for pictorial representations, the authority proposes that pictorial representations be regulated solely with the prohibitions in food law and fair trading law on false, misleading and deceptive representations.

Representational Issues: Naming of foods (P156). A proposal to develop broad principles and guidelines for the naming of food as well as developing the mandatory generic naming requirements.

Maximum permitted concentrations of metals in foods (P157). A proposal to review the maximum permitted concentrations (MPCs) for metals in food.

Maximum permitted concentrations of non-metals in foods (P158). A proposal to review the maximum permitted concentrations (MPCs) for non-metals in food.

Review of dried, evaporated and condensed milks (P159). A proposal to review the standards applying to dried, evaporated and condensed milks.

These proposals are part of the current review of the Australian Food Standards Code which is an important element in developing joint standards with Australia and New Zealand. You are invited to present written submissions to the authority on matters relevant to these proposals, including the potential regulatory impact on consumers, industry and Government, by 16 January 1998. The information papers on these matters provide further information, including advice on the authority’s policy regarding submissions.

Matters at Inquiry

The authority will conduct an inquiry into the variations to standards prepared at full assessment of the following application:

Moisture absorbent sachets (A345). An application from Drypac Pty Limited seeking to permit the use of sodium polyacrylate in moisture absorbent sachets for food packages.

The authority is satisfied that this application raises issues of minor significance and complexity and has decided to omit to invite public submissions prior to making a full assessment. You are invited to present written submissions to the authority on matters relevant to this inquiry, including the potential regulatory impact on consumers, industry and Government, by 26 November 1997. The information paper on this matter provides further information, including advice on the authority’s policy regarding submissions.

Australia New Zealand Food Authority—Variations to the Food Standards Code (Amendment No. 36)

1. Preamble

The variations set forth in the Schedule below are variations to the Food Standards Code (hereinafter called “the code”) which was published by the National Health and Medical Research Council in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No. P 27, on 27 August 1987, and which has been varied from time to time.

The Schedule contains variations adopted by the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council in October 1997.

These variations are published, pursuant to section 32 of the Australia New Zealand Food Authority Act 1991.

2. Citation

These variations may be collectively known as Amendment No. 36 to the code.

3. Commencement

These variations commence on the date of publication of this New Zealand Gazette.