Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has announced a proposal to address issues identified in relation to Australia’s laws on nutrition and health claims standard and has called for submissions from food companies and other stakeholders.The change is in addition to other recently-announced foreshadowed changes.
FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said discrepancies between different standards in the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code had been identified.
“The proposal addresses discrepancies between standards in the Food Standards Code and also ensures sodium claims about food containing more than 1.15% alcohol (e.g. soy sauce) can continue to be made,” Mr McCutcheon said.
All FSANZ decisions on food standards are considered by the Australian Food and State and territory ministers responsible for food regulation in their jurisdictions. The ministers can decide to adopt, amend, or reject standards or they can ask for a review.
The closing date for public submissions is 10 August 2015.
FSANZ calls submissions on an application for Steviol Glycoside
In other news,FSANZ has also called for submissions on whether to permit a steviol glycoside, rebaudioside M (Reb M), as a new intense sweetener. An application to amend the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code Pure Circle Limited was received on 7 January 2015. Pure Circle is associated with global beverage maker The Coca Cola Company, which has been developing its new Coke Life product range using the Reb M intense sweetener.
FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said FSANZ had assessed an Application to allow Reb M to be added to the same food categories and at the same maximum levels as the currently permitted steviol glycosides.
“Reb M is similar in chemical structure and sweetness intensity to other permitted steviol glycosides,” Mr McCutcheon said.
“FSANZ’s safety assessment has concluded that there are no public health and safety issues associated with this Application.
“All FSANZ decisions on standards are notified to ministers responsible for food regulation. The ministers can decide to adopt, amend, or reject standards or they can ask for a review.”
The closing date for submissions is 10 August 2015.
