Board meeting outcomes 2014  

At its 60th meeting held in Canberra, the FSANZ Board approved four draft variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code).

• A1092 – Irradiation of Specific Fruits & Vegetables
• A1096 – Xylanase from Bacillus licheniformis as a Processing Aid (Enzyme)
• P1022 – Primary Production & Processing Requirements for Raw Milk Products
• P1025 – Code Revision

These decisions have been notified to the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation (convening as the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council). The Approval reports summarising the reasons for these decisions are available on the FSANZ website.

The Board also re-affirmed its decision to approve draft variations to the Code following a review for:

• A1039 – Low THC Hemp in Food

FSANZ has given the Forum written notification of this decision. The review report summarising the reasons for this decision is available on the FSANZ website.

Labelling Review

The Board received an update on activities in respect of actions referred to FSANZ by the then COAG Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation as part of the government response to the Labelling Logic: Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy (2011).

Maximum Residue Limits

The Board received an overview of work undertaken by FSANZ in a range of activities in relation to maximum residue limits (MRLs) to ensure that the levels of permitted agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemical residues in food for sale are safe.

Strategic Planning

On the day prior to FSANZ60, the Board convened for a strategic planning day to commence development of its next three-year Corporate Plan which will commence on 1 July 2015.

At its 29 October teleconference, the FSANZ Board approved one draft variation to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

• P1029 – Maximum Level for Tutin in Honey

This decision has been notified to the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation. The Approval report summarising the reasons for this decision is available on the FSANZ website.

At its 59th meeting held in Canberra, the FSANZ Board approved two draft variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code).

• A1088 – Sodium Hydrosulphite as a Food Additive
• A1091 – Enzyme Nomenclature Change – Carboxyl Proteinase to Aspergillopepsin I & II

These decisions have been notified to the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation. The Approval reports summarising the reasons for these decisions are available on the FSANZ website.

The Board decided to reject the draft variation to Standard 2.9.2 – Foods for Infants proposed in Proposal P274 – Review of Minimum Age Labelling of Foods for Infants. The report summarising the reasons for this decision is also available on the FSANZ website.

The Board formally approved FSANZ’s financial statements for 2013-14 following the completion of the annual audit by the Australian National Audit Office. The Board also completed its review of the FSANZ Governance Framework and FSANZ Risk Management Framework following commencement, on 1 July 2014, of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

Prior to its 59th meeting, the Board met with representatives of its Retailers and Manufacturers Liaison Committee to discuss important food standards issues relevant to the food processing and food retailing sectors. This meeting continued the approach the Board has adopted in recent years to consult with key stakeholder groups to gain a better understanding of their current operating environment and future directions.

At its 13 August 2014 teleconference, the FSANZ Board approved variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code).

• A1094 – Food derived from Herbicide-tolerant Cotton DAS-81910-7
• P1033 – Code Maintenance XII

These decisions have been notified to the COAG Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation. The Approval reports summarising the reasons for these decisions are available on the FSANZ website.

At its 58th meeting held in Canberra on 18–19 June 2014, the FSANZ Board received reports on the progress of assessment of the following Proposals:

• P1022 – Primary Production & Processing Requirements for Approved Raw Milk Products
• P1024 – Revision of the Regulation of Nutritive Substances and Novel Foods
• P1025 – Code Revision

The calls for submissions in relation to each of these proposals are anticipated to be released prior to the next Board meeting.

The Board also considered and endorsed the re-appointment of Professor David Fraser and Associate Professor Winsome Parnell as FSANZ Fellows.

At its 14 May 2014 teleconference, the FSANZ Board approved variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code).

• P1014 – Primary Production and Processing Standard for Meat and Meat Products
• P1017 – Criteria for Listeria monocytogenes – Microbiological Limits for Foods

These decisions have been notified to the COAG Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation. The Approval reports summarising the reasons for these decisions are available on the FSANZ website.

At its 57th meeting held in Wellington, New Zealand on 5-6 March 2014, the FSANZ Board approved two draft variations to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code).

• A1087 – Food derived from Insect-protected Soybean Line DAS-81419-2
• A1089 – Food derived from Herbicide-tolerant Canola Line DP-073496-4

These decisions have been notified to the COAG Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation. The Approval reports summarising the reason for these decisions are available on the FSANZ website.

The Board also considered a report on the outcomes of the New Zealand Government Inquiry into the Whey Protein Concentrate Contamination Incident. The Board noted there were a number of important issues to arise from the report that are relevant to FSANZ and the broader food regulatory system.

During its meeting in Wellington, the FSANZ Board Chair and CEO met with the New Zealand Minister of Food Safety, the Hon Nikki Kaye. The Board also took the opportunity to meet with a range of industry, consumer, public health and government stakeholders.

At its 12 February 2014 teleconference, the FSANZ Board approved a variation to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code).

• A1085 – Food derived from Reduced Lignin Lucerne Line KK179

This decision has been notified to the COAG Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation. The Approval report summarising the reason for this decision is available on the FSANZ website.

The Board also considered the assessment summary for Proposal P1015 – Primary Production & Processing Standard for Horticulture. The Board agreed to abandon the Proposal which means that no new regulatory measures will be introduced in the horticulture sector to manage food safety risks. The reasons for this decision are outlined in the Abandonment Report that is available on the FSANZ website. FSANZ will continue to monitor the effectiveness of current food safety risk management measures within the horticulture sector.