6 May 2022
This Notification Circular includes notices that are required to be given to the public, submitters and appropriate government agencies, under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (FSANZ Act). For information about progress on all current applications and proposals, including anticipated consultation opportunities, see the FSANZ Food Standards Development Work Plan. Call for submissions FSANZ has extended the final deadline for the 1st call for submissions by one week and invites written comments by 6pm (Canberra time) 17 June 2022. To make a submission or ask about submissions email submissions@foodstandards.gov.au. Approval and Food Ministers' Meeting notification FSANZ has approved variations arising from the following applications. FSANZ has notified these approvals to the Food Ministers' Meeting: Once FSANZ has notified the Food Ministers' Meeting of its decision, it has 60 days to either request FSANZ to review the approved standard or inform FSANZ that it does not intend to request a review. Further information on the process is available at FSANZ website. Under the Information Publication Scheme, all applications to change the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, as well as submissions on applications and proposals, will be published on our website. We will not publish any material provided in-confidence. Application documents will be published when we call for submissions. Where large numbers of documents are involved, FSANZ will make these available on request, rather than publishing on the website. Submissions are published as soon as possible after the end of the public comment period.199-22
Information Publication Scheme - Important information for applicants and submitters
Other matters
Call for requests: 2022 Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) harmonisation [Australia only]
The call for MRL harmonisation requests is now open for 2022 for all stakeholders and interested persons.
FSANZ invites requests by 6pm (Canberra time) Friday 29 July 2022.
Completed harmonisation requests or inquiries can be sent to the MRL Team at MRL.Contact@foodstandards.gov.au. FSANZ will acknowledge all requests received in writing within ten business days. Please contact us if you do not receive an acknowledgement.
FSANZ periodically considers requests to harmonise MRLs in the Food Standards Code (the Code) with established international standards. MRLs that are established either by the codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) or nationally by an overseas recognised regulatory authority in the country where the food commodity is produced are considered. These changes are assessed through a FSANZ MRL harmonisation proposal, which is usually undertaken annually. The harmonisation process aims to facilitate trade in food while ensuring that chemical residue levels are safe. The proposal relates to Australian MRLs only.
In 2020, FSANZ introduced a new process whereby MRLs adopted by the CAC at the preceding year's meeting would routinely be included for consideration in the MRL harmonisation proposal. This means stakeholders are not required to submit a harmonisation request for a codex MRL adopted by the 2019 CAC or thereafter. Please note, requests for harmonisation with codex MRLs that were adopted by the CAC prior to 2019 still need to be submitted.
In 2022, FSANZ advises that if a stakeholder intends to request to align with the MRL from the country where the food commodity is produced, and there is an existing higher codex MRL adopted for the same chemical/commodity combination, then stakeholders should request to align with the codex MRL.
FSANZ requests that the MRL and associated import data for the country the commodity is sourced/grown in is also provided in the harmonisation template.
Guidance material to assist with the preparation of MRL harmonisation requests is available on the FSANZ website and through the Guide for submitting MRL harmonisation requests (3rd edition, April 2018).
Amendment to Standard 1.4.2 - Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) [Australia only]
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has notified FSANZ of applications or variations to the APVMA MRL Standard that the APVMA considers will likely result in variations to Schedule 20 of Standard 1.4.2 if they are granted.
More information on these notifications can be obtained at Maximum residue limits - variations
Calls for public comment - Proposed variations to Standard 1.4.2
The APVMA has called for public comment on a number of proposed variations to Schedule 20 of Standard 1.4.2. Information can be found on the APVMA website.
Gazettal of amendments to Standard 1.4.2
The APVMA has registered a number of amendments to Schedule 20 of Standard 1.4.2 on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments. For further information, go to the ComLaw website.
Contact us
If you wish to be advised of developments with any of the matters listed above or require more information about anything in this Circular, email standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au.
To make a submission or ask about submissions email submissions@foodstandards.gov.au.
Visit our contact us page if you have general questions about our work.
If you have general questions about our work you can also write to us at:
| The Information Officer | The Office Administrator |
| Food Standards Australia New Zealand | Food Standards Australia New Zealand |
| PO Box 5423 | PO Box 10559 |
| Kingston ACT 2604 | WELLINGTON 6140 |
| AUSTRALIA | NEW ZEALAND |
| Tel +61 2 6271 2241 Fax +61 2 6271 2278 | Tel +64 4 978 5630 Fax +64 4 473 9855 |
| Email: information@foodstandards.gov.au | Email: information@foodstandards.govt.nz |
Food Secretariat
In accordance with the Food Regulation Agreement, the Australian Government Department of Health is responsible for providing secretariat services to the Food Ministers' Meeting, the Food Regulation Standing Committee and the Implementation Subcommittee for Food Regulation.
Visit the Food Regulation website or email the Food Regulation Secretariat for more information foodregulationsecretariat@health.gov.au
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Previous Notification Circulars and Gazettes are available on the FSANZ website. The publically available FSANZ Work Plan also provides information on other applications and proposals. |