A new primary production and processing standard for seed sprouts has been approved by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Board. FSANZ said the objective of the standard is to reduce the incidence of food-borne illness associated with seed sprouts by introducing food regulatory measures for sprouts processors. Measures in the standard include requirements for producers to identify potential hazards and implement control measures to address those hazards. Sprout producers must also have evidence... ...Read more »

New South Wales-based DSM Food Specialties, which produces food ingredients and nutritional additives, has applied to the Australian Government’s main food regulatory standards agency, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), to allow the enzyme amylomaltase to be used as a food processing aid. Application A1061 is for the use of amylomaltase, sourced from a genetically modified (GM) strain of Bacillus Amyloliquefaciens bacteria, as a processing aid to produce modified starch products as... ...Read more »

The Australian Government’s main food regulatory standards agency, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), has begun development of a new food production and processing standard for game meat (Proposal P1014). The purpose of the new standard is to achieve a nationally consistent approach to the management of meat safety. Development of this standard will require extensive stakeholder involvement with a minimum two rounds of public consultation. FSANZ has said there will be opportunity to... ...Read more »

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today called for submissions on an application to change the Food Standards Code to allow food derived from a genetically modified soybean. FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said the application was seeking permission to allow food derived from a soybean genetically modified to be tolerant to the herbicide dicamba. Dicamba controls annual and perennial rose weeds in grain crops and highlands, and it is used to control brush and bracken in... ...Read more »

New ‘free range’ egg production standards for Australia, drafted by the egg industry body, Australian Egg Corporation Limited (AECL), have caused outrage amongst free range egg farmers. The AECL’s proposed new standards for “free range” eggs is seeking to extend the maximum number of birds per hectare from 1,500 to 20,000, but a spokesperson for the AECL told Australian Food News, “Stocking densities of up to two birds per metre square provide hens with the ability to display all their... ...Read more »

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) this week released details of proposed changes to the Food Standards Code and invited comment from interested organisations and individuals. Among the changes under consideration are the approval of a GM corn, steviol as a high intensity sweetener, and food for special medical purposes. Anyone can apply to amend the Food Standards Code. FSANZ assesses the safety of any new food, substance or food production technology and conducts a regulatory impact... ...Read more »

Australia’s food standards regulator has released an outline of a review report into regulation of genetically modified (GM) foods in Australia. The review was commissioned by FSANZ in May 2008, with international expert Dr William Yan* invited to dissect FSANZ’s safety assessment procedures for genetically modified (GM) foods. Overview The report provided comparison of the current FSANZ approach to GM food safety assessments against international best practice in the area. It identified... ...Read more »

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has invited individuals and organisations with an interest in the regulation of food to comment on a proposal to develop measures to maximise seed sprouts safety. The proposal is considering the development of a food safety standard for the production of seed sprouts (e.g. alfalfa, mung beans) for human consumption in Australia. Such a standard would be incorporated into the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Primary production and processing standard... ...Read more »

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), which develops international food standards, has adopted more than 30 new international standards, codes of practice and guidelines to improve worldwide food safety following a week-long meeting.A brief overview of some of the new standards adopted by the Commission* can be seen below: Reduction of Acrylamide in foods The Commission approved measures for reducing the formation of acrylamide in foods. The Code of Practice will provide national and local authorities,... ...Read more »

A new agreement between the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) and the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency (UKFSA) will see the two nations forge closer ties in regards to food safety. The two bodies are responsible for protecting consumer interests in relation to food safety and food standards in their respective countries – the equivalent of FSANZ in Australia. Under the arrangement, NZFSA and the Food Standards Agency will cooperate in areas of mutual interest, such as science, nutrition,... ...Read more »