Primary production and processing requirements for raw milk products: Public comment invited 
December 2009
FSANZ is assessing the requirements in the Food Standards Code for the sale of raw milk products in Australia (Proposal P1007).
What stage has the Proposal reached?
FSANZ has completed the first stage of its assessment and a First Assessment Report is available on the FSANZ website http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/proposals/proposalp1007primary3953.cfm The Report describes the progress of the Proposal to-date. It includes:
a description of the objectives of the Proposal and the framework used to categorise raw milk products;
details of the technical assessment undertaken to inform the category framework and risk management options;
identification of the production and processing controls that must be in place to manage potential microbial hazards for each of the three categories of raw milk products;
information about the subsequent level of risk posed by each category of products if these controls are in place; and
a preliminary impact analysis which establishes a preferred approach at First Assessment for amending the current dairy standards in the Code.
The Report is for public consultation and we hope that individuals or organisations with an interest in this Proposal will provide feedback and information on issues raised in the paper.
How can I contribute?
Details of how to make a submission are given in the Report and at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/changingthecode/ . The deadline for submissions is 24 February 2010.
Feedback and information on the assessment will help to inform the next stage of the Proposal. We have posed questions that target the type of information that would be helpful to progress the Proposal. These questions are available on the FSANZ website: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/proposals/proposalp1007primary3953.cfm . However, you do not have to restrict your comments to those questions. Wherever possible, please provide data or evidence to support your comments.
This is not your last opportunity to comment on the Proposal. We will have another round of public consultation at the Second Assessment stage.
Where can I find further information?
General information on the Proposal is available on the FSANZ website at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/primaryproductionprocessingstandardsaustraliaonly/dairyrawmilkproducts/
You can nominate to be placed on the FSANZ interested parties register. People on the register will receive information about the progress of the raw milk products work. The Information Officer can be contacted on (02) 6271 2241 or email info@foodstandards.gov.au .
What are the next stages of the work?
The next stages of the work include:
Taking into account the comments, issues and information provided in response to the First Assessment Report in progressing the Proposal;
Developing draft amendments to the production and processing requirements for dairy products currently in the Code in line with the outcomes of the assessment;
Working with the dairy industry and government enforcement agencies to determine how any changes to permissions will work in practice;
Undertaking a full impact (cost-benefit) analysis;
Releasing a Second Assessment Report explaining any proposed changes to the Code and the reasons for these changes.
We expect to complete this work later in 2010. The Proposal is expected to be finalised in 2011.