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Call for comment on permitting steviol glycosides as a food additive in Foods for Special Medical Purposes

Call for comment on permitting steviol glycosides as a food additive in Foods for Special Medical Purposes Date: 17/11/2023 Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) to permit steviol glycosides as a food additive in Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP).  FSANZ CEO Dr Sandy Cuthbert said a number of intense sweeteners were already permitted to be used in the manufacture of FSMP, but not steviol glycosides.  “Steviol glycosides are food additives, with the technological purpose of an intense sweetener," Dr Cuthbert said. “FSANZ's safety assessment concludes that the proposed use of steviol glycosides in FSMP is consistent with its typical function as an intense sweetener." FSANZ previously assessed an extensive toxicological database on steviol…

Published 18 November 2023

Call for comment to extend the use of rosemary extract as a food additive

Call for comment to extend the use of rosemary extract as a food additive ​​​​​​Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) to extend the use of rosemary extract as a food additive. FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said rosemary extract is already permitted in the Code for use as a food additive in certain foods up to specified maximum permitted levels (MPLs).  “The use of the antioxidant properties of rosemary extract in food is well documented in the scientific literature," Dr Cuthbert said. “Based on the safety and dietary exposure assessments conducted by FSANZ, there is no evidence of a public health and safety concern associated with extending the use of rosemary extract as a food additive." The application is seeking to extend the use of rosemary…

Published 18 November 2023

Call for comment to permit the sale of honey produced by Australian stingless bees

Call for comment to permit the sale of honey produced by Australian stingless bees Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for public comment on an application to permit the sale and use of honey produced by Australian native stingless bees. The application from the Australian Native Bee Association Inc. seeks to vary the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) to accept honey produced by native stingless bees as a standardised food in Australia and New Zealand. FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said FSANZ has undertaken an assessment to determine the differences between Australian native bee honey and European honeybee honey and to evaluate any potential public health and safety concerns. “The current definition of honey in the Code is appropriate to European honeybees, however honey produced by stingless bees has different sugar and moisture…

Published 23 November 2023

P1062 – Defining added sugars for claims  ​​​​​

P1062 – Defining added sugars for claims  ​​​​​ Proposal P1062 – Defining added sugars for claims assessed changes to conditions for making voluntary nutrition content claims about added sugars in food. The FSANZ Board approved the draft standard on 14 November 2023 and it was considered by Australian and New Zealand food ministers on 1 December 2023. The approval report is available below.  At gazettal, the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code will be amended to incorporate the revised standard which will not permit 'no added sugar(s)' claims when a food:

• contains, or is, an 'added sugar' as defined in the Code
• does not contain 'added sugar' but contains more sugars (i.e. monosaccharides and disaccharides) than:
  • ​10.0 g /100 g for solid food
  • 7.5 g /100 mL for liquid food.
  …

  Published 24 November 2023

Amendment 220

Amendment 220 Download: Amendment No. 220 (pdf 265kb)​​​​​ Amendment No. 220​ contains amendments to the following Schedule in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code​​:  Standard 1.1.1 – Structure of the Code and general provisions Standard 1.1.2 Definitions used throughout the Code Standard 1.3.3 Processing aids…

Published 19 July 2023

Amendment No. 221

Amendment No. 221 ​​Download: Amendment No. 221 (pdf 248kb)​​​​​ Amendment No. 221 contains amendments to the following Schedule in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code​​:

• Schedule 18 Processing aids​​

Published 1 September 2023

Amendment No. 222

Amendment No. 222 ​​Download: Amendment No. 222 (pdf 272 kb)​​​​​ Amendment No. 222 to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code was published by FSANZ on 30 October 2023 (FSC 162). Amendment No. 222 contains amendments to the following Schedules in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code​​:

• Schedule 18 Processing aids
• Schedule 26 ​Food produced using gene technology​​​

Published 30 October 2023

A1104 - Voluntary Addition of Vitamins & Minerals to Nut- & Seed-based Beverages

A1104 - Voluntary Addition of Vitamins & Minerals to Nut- & Seed-based Beverages

Published 23 February 2016

Notification Circular 257-23

Notification Circular 257-23 New applications and proposals​ FSANZ has completed an administrative assessment and prepared the following proposal. Public consultation is anticipated in September 2023. General procedure

• ​Proposal P1062 – Defining added sug​​​​​ars for claims: ​To consider amending the Code to define and clarify added sugars for the purposes of making claims.