ANZFA Sixty-Seventh Meeting
Canberra
21-22 February 2001
SUMMARY OF KEY OUTCOMES
Recommendations relating to Food Standards matters
The ANZFA Board has responsibility under theAustralia New Zealand Food Authority Act 1991to consider standards matters and make recommendations to members of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council (which is composed of Health Ministers from the Commonwealth, States, Territories and New Zealand) to amend theFood Standards Code. The Ministers consider the recommendations from the Board and decisions are determined by majority vote, before the Code can be amended. Ministers can reject the recommendation if they so wish, or amend it, or return the recommendation to the Board for reconsideration.
Application A373 - Pectinesterase as a processing aid
The Board approved the Inquiry Report for the approval of the enzyme pectinesterase for use as a processing aid for fruit and vegetable processing. The enzyme is obtained from a genetically modified strain of Aspergillus oryzae which carries the gene coding for pectinesterase isolated fromAspergillus aculeatus. The commercial name for the enzyme product is Rheozyme. The proposed draft variations to the Food Standards Codewill now be recommended to Ministers for adoption.
Application A402 - Lipase from genetically modified Aspergillus oryzae
The Board approved the Inquiry Report for the approval of lipase sourced from a genetically modified strain of Aspergillus oryzaewhich carries the gene coding for a lipase isolated from Rhizomucor mieheias a processing aid in the dairy industry. The commercial name for the enzyme product is palatase. The proposed draft variations to the Food Standards Codewill now be recommended to Ministers for adoption.
Proposal P238 - BSE
The Board considered the Full Assessment Report for a new Proposal to require bovine meat and bovine-derived food ingredients to be derived from animals free from BSE to ensure continued protection of public health in Australia and New Zealand. The Board agreed to progress the Proposal under the section 37 of the ANZFA Act as a matter of urgency to protect the health of Australians and New Zealanders.
The proposed draft variations to the Food Standards Codewill now be recommended to Ministers for adoption and a round of public consultation will be carried out at a later date.
Application A410 - Phytosterol Esters derived from Vegetable Oils
The Board was provided with an update on how ANZFA was proceeding with the assessment of the Application. This is the first application to be considered under the Novel Food Standard. Phytosterol esters are reported to reduce cholesterol uptake.
Proposal P153 - Health and related claims
The Board considered a paper advising of issues that had been raised during the latest round of public consultation on P153 and the options available for completing the assessment of the Proposal. The Board will be holding two meetings with individuals and organisations who submitted comment on the Proposal to discuss the key issues of resourcing and options for managing health claims. One meeting will be held in New Zealand and one in Australia.
Application A396 - Erythrosine in preserved cherries
The Board approved the Full Assessment Report for an application seeking permission for the use of erythrosine to colour preserved cherries to a maximum level of 200mg/kg. The Report will be released in the near future for public consultation
Application A406 - permission for use of neotame
The Board approved the Full Assessment Report for an application seeking permission for the use of neotame as an intense sweetener and flavour enhancer. The Report will be released in the near future for public consultation.
Listeria Management Strategy
The Board considered a paper on progress on the Listeria Assessment and Management Strategy. Regulators and industry have developed a number of strategies in order to reduce the exposure of consumers in Australia and New Zealand to levels ofListeria monocytogenes that may pose a risk to public health and safety. However, there are no generally agreed principles, and no consolidated approach to Listeriamanagement in Australia and New Zealand.
The strategy may be used for other significant food-borne pathogens, which will provide a basis for ANZFA's work both domestically and internationally, and facilitate consistency of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, with respect to the microbiological standards andListeria in particular.
Joint Code follow-up
The Board agreed to raise a number of new proposals relating to matters as directed by the Ministerial Council. These matters will be progressed by ANZFA in collaboration with an Inter-Governmental Task Force. The new Proposals include:
·very small businesses being allowed to opt in or out of providing nutrition information panels (NIPs) or percentage labelling on packaged food (Proposal P231);
·compositional standards relating to chocolate, fruit juice drinks, cream, ice-cream; yoghurt, peanut butter and jam (Proposal P232);
·the feasibility of a requirement to declare the following additional nutrients whenever a nutrition claim is made (Proposal P233):
·polyunsaturated fat;
·monounsaturated fat;
·cholesterol;
·trans fatty acids;
·dietary fibre; and
·those nutrients already required in the NIP.
Application A395 - Unit Pricing
The Board considered an Application to require the unit pricing of all food sold in Australia. The Board considered that mandatory unit pricing of food was not appropriately regulated through food laws and rejected the Application.
Proposal P228 - Food Additives
The Board considered the Full Assessment Report of a Proposal to make some minor adjustments to Standard 1.3.1 - Food Additives, in Volume 2 of the Food Standards Code. The Report will be released in the near future for public consultation.
Proposal P237 - Country of Origin
The Board agreed to a new proposal for the review of country of origin labelling provisions. Due to the abandonment of Proposal P90, the previously proposed changes to the current country of origin labelling provisions were not progressed. As a consequence, provisions in Volume 1 of the Food Standards Code have been included in the Joint Code (Volume 2) in a temporary and transitional standard, Standard 1.1.3, and apply to Australia only. A review of country of origin labelling provisions must now be finalised before the repeal of Volume 1 of the Code in about December 2002.
Proposal P230 - Review of iodine
The Board agreed to a new proposal for the review of the iodine status of New Zealanders and Australians with a view to revising the current food regulations relating to iodine fortification. There is emerging evidence of a decline in iodine status in Australians and New Zealanders over the last decade. The issue was raised publicly in 1999 by Professor Creswell Eastman after a small study found disturbing levels of mild and moderate iodine deficiency in pregnant women and people with diabetes attending hospital clinics. The increase in prevalence of mild deficiency has been attributed to declining use of iodine-containing sanitising agents in the dairy industry, as well as a reduced consumption of salt in response to authoritative nutrition advice about limiting consumption.
GM Commodities
Application A372 - Oil derived from glufosinate-ammonium tolerant canola and oil derived from glufosinate-ammonium tolerant and pollination-controlled canola
The Board approved the Full Assessment Report for the approval of oil derived from Liberty Link ® and Invigor ® canola which have been genetically modified to be tolerant to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium, and in some cases contain a gene affecting pollination. The Report will be released in the near future for public consultation.
Application A375 - Food derived from glufinosate-ammonium tolerant corn
The Board approved the Full Assessment Report for the approval of food derived from Liberty Link ® corn which has been genetically modified to be tolerant to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium. The Report will be released in the near future for public consultation.
Application A378 - Food derived from glyphosate-tolerant sugar beet
The Board approved the Full Assessment Report for the approval of food derived from Roundup Ready ® Sugar beet which has been genetically modified to be tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate. The Report will be released in the near future for public consultation.
Application A379 - Oils and linters from bromoxynil-tolerant cotton transformation
The Board approved the Full Assessment Report for the approval of oils and linters from OXY or BXN cotton which has been genetically modified to be tolerant to the herbicide bromoxynil. The Report will be released in the near future for further consultation.
Application A382 - Food derived from insect-protected potatoes
The Board approved the Inquiry Report for the approval of New Leaf ® potatoes which have been genetically modified to provide protection against a range of insects including the Colorado potato beetle. The proposed draft variations to the Food Standards Code will now be recommended to Ministers for adoption.
Application A383 - Food derived from insect- and potato leafroll virus-protected potatoes
The Board approved the Inquiry Report for the approval of New Leaf ® Plus potatoes which have been genetically modified to provide protection against a range of insects including the Colorado potato beetle, as well as against potato leafroll virus. The proposed draft variations to the Food Standards Codewill now be recommended to Ministers for adoption.
Application A384 - Food derived from insect- and potato virus Y-protected potatoes
The Board approved the Inquiry Report for the approval of New Leaf® Y Potatoes which have been genetically modified to provide protection against a range of insects including the Colorado potato beetle, as well as against potato virus Y. The proposed draft variations to the Food Standards Codewill now be recommended to Ministers for adoption.
Application A385 - Food derived from insect-protected Bt-176 corn
The Board approved the Inquiry Report for the approval of food from insect-protected corn which has been genetically modified for protection from attack by lepidopteran pests, particularly the European corn borer. The proposed draft variations to the Food Standards Codewill now be recommended to Ministers for adoption.
Application A386 - Food derived from insect-protected, herbicide-tolerant Bt-11 corn
The Board approved the Inquiry Report for the approval of food from insect-protected corn which has been genetically modified for protection from attack by lepidopteran pests, particularly the European corn borer and is tolerant to applications from the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium. The proposed draft variations to the Food Standards Code will now be recommended to Ministers for adoption.
Other matters
Maori and indigenous consultation
The Board considered a report of the meeting of the Maori Reference Group held in mid-November 2000 in New Zealand. The Group advises ANZFA on issues likely to have significance for Maori and will suggest appropriate measures for consulting further on those issues. The draft Terms of Reference were finalised at the meeting of the Group and further discussion was held on the Maori Consultation Strategy. The group is expected to meet again in April 2001.
The Board was also advised of progress towards the establishment of an Aboriginal Consultation Strategy. In an attempt to link with existing networks and activities, ANZFA staff have been working with the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services (OATSIHS) within the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.
Draft Corporate Plan for 2001-2004
The Board considered the draft Corporate Plan for 2001-2004. An improved strategic planning process was commenced in 2000-2001 with the development of a strategic planning cycle, the introduction of environmental scanning as part of the process, and greater focus on the setting of strategic directions for ANZFA by the Board. The draft Corporate Plan has been developed from the strategic directions set by the Board and through staff involvement. It also draws from the 2000-2001 Corporate Plan.
The Draft Corporate Plan, while building on and retaining key elements of the current Plan, places greater emphasis on the proposed key result areas. The development and refinement of ANZFA's strategic planning and production of its Corporate Plan is an ongoing process. The need for more effective performance measurement and reporting is recognised and plans are being developed to improve management skills in this area during 2001. The Board will further consider the draft 2001-2004 for endorsement at its next meeting.
Process improvement
The Board was advised of progress on the strategy on the improvement of internal processes. Focus has been placed on:
·improving the operational efficiency of ANZFA so that scarce financial and human resources can be better utilised; and
·improving the effectiveness of the way that ANZFA operates and interacts with the community in order to address the numerous criticisms from our stakeholders.
A number of projects are well advanced and cover a range of areas including improving the efficiency of the secretariat, establishment of improved databases and improved telephone inquiry management. The key project currently under way is a review of the application and assessment processes.
Draft Health Promotion Policy
The Board considered a progress report on the development of a policy on ANZFA's health promotion role. The policy will be considered for endorsement at the Board's next meeting.
Dietary Modelling
ANZFA has for some years conducted dietary modelling for the purpose of assessing the impact of proposed changes to theAustralia New Zealand Food Standards Code, primarily through the use of its DIAMOND software. At various times, there have been requests for use of the DIAMOND service by companies and other organisations. Following a survey of potential users, the Board considered it appropriate to establish a small-scale pilot to assess the demand for such a service with a view to establishing the organisational infrastructure should a pilot be successful. This will commence later this year.
Review of the Code of Practice on Nutrient Claims in Food Labels and in Food Advertisements (CoPoNC)
The majority of nutrition claims are currently managed by CoPoNC in Australia. In New Zealand, similar claims are regulated under the New ZealandFood Regulations1984. Given the introduction of the Joint Code and the subsequent need to harmonise with New Zealand, together with the need to address disparities of existing provisions in the Joint Code, a review of CoPoNC by ANZFA w as agreed to by the Board.
CoPoNC was prepared by the then National Food Authority in consultation with key stakeholders and finalised in 1995. It was adopted by reference into the industry-developed Code of Conduct for the Provision of Information on Food Products. Its administration is the responsibility of the Food Code Management Committee that comprises representatives from industry and the community. ANZFA is an observer on the Committee.