Australia New Zealand Food Authority Food Standards Matters at Full Assessment The authority has made a preliminary assessment, has accepted the following proposal and will now make a full assessment. Proposed food hygiene standard (P145). The authority developed a proposal to introduce a new, national food hygiene standard to apply to all food businesses in Australia covered by the Food Standards Code. Although this proposal would not apply directly to primary food production, it would eventually have implications for this sector. Food hygiene regulations are outside the food standard setting system the authority currently administers. They are presently developed and enforced separately by the states and territories. The proposed food hygiene standard would require all food businesses, that can identify one or more food safety hazards, to develop and implement a food safety programme. The detail and scope of these programmes would vary according to the size and nature of the business and the level of risk posed to the community. The proposed standard would promote a preventative rather than a reactive approach to food safety and ensure the same hygiene requirements operate throughout Australia. Implementation of the standard would be phased in over a 6-year period using criteria based on the risk classification of food businesses. Please send written submissions on relevant matters to one of the addresses below by 13 December 1996. Matters at Inquiry The authority has completed full assessments of the following application and proposal and will now conduct inquiries. Xylanase in baked products including bread (A304). Received on 25 March 1996, from Novo Nordisk Bioindustrial Pty Limited this application seeks approval for use of the enzyme hemicellulase endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) in baked goods, including bread. Hemicellulase endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) is produced using recominant DNA techniques from a strain of Aspergillus oryzae carrying the gene coding for the enzyme from Thermomyces lanuginosus. The authority has prepared a draft variation to Standard A16 Processing Aids, to permit the of hemicellulase endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) as a processing aid. Please send written submissions on matters relevant to the inquiry to one of the addresses below by 13 November 1996. Labelling requirements for fermented comminuted meat products (P146). The authority prepared this proposal to introduce new labelling requirements for fermented comminuted meat products. The authority did not seek submissions on this matter; it has made a full assessment, and prepared draft variations to Standard C1 Meat, Game Meat and Related Products. Please send written submissions on matters relevant to the inquiry to one of the addresses below by 30 October 1996. Matters Before Council The authority has completed an inquiry into the following application and has recommended that the Australia and New Zealand Food Standards Council adopt a draft variation to the Food Standards Code. Residues in Food (A283). This application from the National Registration Authority for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals sought to establish Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for a number of new chemicals and to delete certain chemicals. The authority prepared draft variations to Standard A14 Residues in Food. The recommendations, if approved by council, will vary Standard A14 by: including MRLs for the new chemicals bromochloromethane, clodinafop-propargyl, clodinafop acid, cloquintocet-mexyl, cloquintocet acid, 4-6 diamino-2-cyclopropylamino-pyrimidine-5-carbonitrile, doramectin, 2-1-(ethoxyimino) propyl-3-hydroxy-5-(3-butyrylmesityl) cyclohex-2-enone, fluquinconazole, fluxofenim, S-hydroprene, lufenuron, metolachlor, pyrithiobac sodium; including new MRLs for the chemicals bromoxynil, cyproconazole, difenoconazole, gibberellic acid, imidacloprid, ioxynil, moxidectin, triadimenol, virginiamycin; including changes to existing MRLs for the chemicals cyhalothrin, difenoconazole, glyphosate and pyridaben; and deleting the chemicals cloquintocet and piroxofop. Papers The authority periodically publishes discussion and options papers on matters before it to which it seeks written comment. It also publishes policy papers, codes of practice and survey results. All papers are available from the addresses below. A policy document which provides a broad outline of the use of risk assessment and management practices at the authority is now available. The document, called Framework for the assessment and management of food-related health risks, provides an overview of the decision-making processes used for the protection of public health and safety in relation to the consumption of food. These processes are considered to be an integral part of the development of a safe and health food system. Inquiry into transitional arrangements for the Australia New Zealand Food Standards System The authority completed a full assessment of proposal P137 in June 1996. It prepared a draft standard (T1) to implement the transitional arrangements Australia and New Zealand agreed to which establish a system for developing joint food standards. The authority published a notice on 19 June 1996, stating that it had recommended that the (then) National Food Standards Council adopt Standard T1 as a matter of urgency so the promotion of fair trade in food and the promotion of trade and commerce in the food industry was not compromised. The council adopted Standard T1, without the authority holding an inquiry. The authority (under section 37 of the Act) must now hold an inquiry into the draft variation namely Standard T1. The transitional arrangements in Standard T1 will mean that foods imported from New Zealand, which comply with the New Zealand Food Regulations 1984, can be sold in Australia. They must, however, meet Australian requirements concerning residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals and Australian requirements concerning maximum levels of cadmium. These arrangements came into force on 1 July 1996. Standard T1 also contains some temporary provisions to ensure Australian industry is not disadvantaged by the transitional arrangements while the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code is being developed. All aspects of the transitional arrangements, including these temporary provisions, are being reviewed as part of the inquiry. The authority invites written submissions, from interested individuals and organisations, which will help the authority conduct the inquiry by 30 October 1996. Please send all correspondence, including requests for further information, to: Standards Liaison Officer Australia New Zealand Food Authority P.O. Box 7186 CANBERRA MAIL CENTRE ACT 2610 AUSTRALIA Tel: (00 61 06) 271 2219 Fax: (00 61 06) 271 2278 or Standards Liaison Officer Australia New Zealand Food Authority P.O. Box 10-559 The Terrace WELLINGTON 6036 NEW ZEALAND Tel: (04) 473 9942 Fax: (04) 473 9855