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Call for comment on food made from a genetically modified wheat

Call for comment on food made from a genetically modified wheat Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to allow the sale and use of food made from a genetically modified (GM) wheat. FSANZ interim CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said the application seeks approval to permit food derived from wheat line IND-00412-7 which has been genetically modified to provide drought and herbicide tolerance. “If approved, food made from this type of GM wheat could be imported into Australia and New Zealand in products including flour, bread, pasta and biscuits.'  Dr Cuthbert said. “Our safety assessment found no potential public health and safety concerns with this variety of GM wheat. It is as safe as non-GM wheat varieties.' A safety assessment forms part of the approval process for all GM applications.…

Published 12 October 2022

Call for comment on food made from a new genetically modified canola

Call for comment on food made from a new genetically modified canola Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to allow food from a new genetically modified (GM) canola. The application seeks approval to permit food derived from canola line LBFLFK which has been genetically modified to produce omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) and for tolerance to imidazolinone herbicides. If approved, the canola could be imported into Australia and New Zealand as refined oil or as an ingredient within a food. FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said the oil could be used as an ingredient in food products to provide an alternative source of dietary omega-3 LC-PUFAs, which are not found in measurable levels in non-GM canola.    “Our safety assessment found no potential…

Published 20 June 2022

Call for comment on harmonisation of marine biotoxin standards for bivalve shellfish

Call for comment on harmonisation of marine biotoxin standards for bivalve shellfish   Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an applicationto harmonise maximum levels (MLs) for marine biotoxins in bivalve shellfish.  FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said the application seeks tolower theMLs in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards code (the Code) for two marine biotoxins - diarrhetic shellfish toxins and paralytic shellfish toxins - to align with international and New Zealand standards.  “Marine biotoxins cause serious and sometimes long term toxicity in humans so setting MLs for their presence in shellfish is critical to ensuring food safety,” Dr Cuthbert said.  “Our assessment supported the applicant's request and will harmonise the Code's standards with…

Published 6 July 2023

Call for comment on irradiation of fruits and vegetables

Call for comment on irradiation of fruits and vegetables Food Standards Australia New Zealand is calling for comment on an application to irradiate fresh fruit and vegetables. FSANZ CEO Mark Booth said the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has applied for permission to irradiate fresh fruit and vegetables as a way to stop the spread of pests like fruit fly when food is moved across quarantine borders. “Fruit fly is an ongoing threat to the horticulture industry, both here in Australia, New Zealand and internationally. “Australian quarantine laws mean food produced in an area where there are known pests, must be treated before they can be sent internationally or to states or territories that have quarantine restrictions.   “Irradiation has a long history of safe use and is used in many countries around the world…

Published 30 October 2020

Call for comment on new food safety management standards

Call for comment on new food safety management standards Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is seeking public comment on proposed new food safety management standards for food service and retail businesses.  Interim FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said the proposed amendments to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) were designed to strengthen food safety management practices and introduce nationally consistent, risk-proportionate standards to reduce rates of foodborne illness.  “The food services sector is vitally important to the Australian economy and our way of life,' Dr Cuthbert said.  “The majority of businesses do an excellent job in providing Australians with safe food, however our assessment of food safety management practices in the sector has found a need for strengthened standards to…

Published 14 February 2022

Call for comment on new sources for enzyme processing aids

Call for comment on new sources for enzyme processing aids Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on three applications to allow new enzyme processing aids from genetically-modified (GM) microbial sources.   FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said the applications seek approval to permit the use of three different enzymes; endo-1,4-beta-xylanase enzyme (gene donor Talaromyces leycettanus), alpha-arabinofuranosidase enzyme (gene donor Talaromyces pinophilus) both sourced from GM Trichoderma reesei and the carboxypeptidase enzyme sourced from Aspergillus oryzae.  “Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus oryzae have a long history of safe use as a source of enzyme processing aids,…

Published 8 February 2023

Call for comment on plant sterols in plant-based milk alternatives

Call for comment on plant sterols in plant-based milk alternatives Date: 1/07/2022  Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to allow phytosterols, phytostanols or their esters (plant sterols) to be added as a novel food to plant-based milk alternatives. FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said FSANZ's safety assessment found no health and safety concerns for consumers in Australia and New Zealand.  “Plant sterols have a long history of safe use and have been permitted to be added to certain foods for more than 20 years,” Dr Cuthbert said.   For more information and to access assessment documents, visit the FSANZ call for comment page. Submissions close 6pm (Canberra time) on 12 August 2022. What happens to my feedback?  We will publish all submissions to…

Published 4 July 2022

What we do_Test_AL

What we do_Test_AL We use our scientific expertise to inform policy so that people can trust that the food they eat. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is a statutory authority in the Australian Government Health portfolio. FSANZ develops food standards for Australia and New Zealand which as implemented in legislation. On this page

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Call for comment on Proposal P1061 - Code Maintenance Proposal 2023

Call for comment on Proposal P1061 - Code Maintenance Proposal 2023 Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is seeking public comments on a proposal to make minor amendments to the Food Standards Australia New Zealand code (the Code).¯ FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Dr Sandra Cuthbert said the proposal seeks to correct typographical errors, omissions, inconsistencies and formatting issues, and to update references in the Code. Dr Cuthbert explained the proposal would also amend notes in the Code required to reflect the action taken by the New Zealand Government to require mandatory addition of folic acid to all wheat flour sold as suitable for bread-making in New Zealand on or from 13 August 2023. “The proposed amendments to the Code are all relatively straightforward in nature. No potential public health and safety concerns…

Published 30 January 2023

Call for comment on proposed amendments to pregnancy warning labels on corrugated cardboard packaging of alcoholic beverage

Call for comment on proposed amendments to pregnancy warning labels on corrugated cardboard packaging of alcoholic beverage Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to permit pregnancy warning marks on corrugated cardboard packaging to be in a single colour on a contrasting background.  The applicant is seeking the changes to address a technical printing issue which results in misalignment of the three-colour pregnancy warning mark on corrugated cardboard packaging, making it difficult to read and reducing effectiveness. Corrugated cardboard is typically used to package multiple cans or bottles of alcoholic beverages.  The proposed changes would allow an alternative larger pregnancy warning mark to be…

Published 6 October 2022