Current Food Standards Australia New Zealand Reviews – have your say.
The following are two reviews currently under way at Food Standards Australia new Zealand. This information is included with permission.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today released an information paper on its proposed approach to a review of food safety standards in the Food Standards Code.
FSANZ CEO Mark Booth said FSANZ is reviewing chapters 3 and 4 of the Food Standards Code to ensure there is a consistent and up-to-date approach to food safety management in Australia.
“The review will focus on:
- the requirements for food safety management in the food service sector and closely related retail sectors, and
- potential development of a primary production and processing standard for high-risk horticulture products to introduce requirements to manage food safety on-farm, including requirements for traceability.
“In addition, FSANZ will consider new technologies that have developed since the original standards were developed.
“I encourage all stakeholders to comment on the proposed scope and approach of the review by 31 May 2019.
“We are expecting to prepare a number of proposals to progress this work and there will be consultation opportunities during the proposal process.”
More information
Foodborne Illness Reduction Strategy 2018-21+
Media contact: 0401 714 265 (Australia) or +61 401 714 265 (from New Zealand) or media@foodstandards.gov.au
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to lower the minimum alcohol percentage in the Food Standards Code for Tequila from 37 per cent to 35 per cent.
FSANZ CEO Mark Booth said Spirits New Zealand proposed the changes which will harmonise requirements with Mexican rules for Tequila geographical indication (GI).
A GI identifies a good (in this case Tequila) as originating in a specific region where a particular quality, reputation or other characteristic of the good is attributable to that geographic origin.
“Currently the Code requires all spirits to have a minimum content of 37 per cent. Therefore, some products legally entitled to use the Tequila GI are excluded from the New Zealand and Australian markets,” Mr Booth said.
The period for comment closes at 6pm (Canberra time) 18 June 2019.
All FSANZ decisions on applications are notified to ministers responsible for food regulation who can ask for a review or agree that the standard should become law.
More information
Geographical indications – information from IP Australia
Media contact: 0401 714 265 (Australia) or +61 401 714 265 (from New Zealand)