Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today published details of changes that it is considering to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code –regulations that govern the composition, labelling and safe handling of food.

Among the proposed changes are regulations dealing with nutrition, health and related claims, the labelling of ice cream products, two new genetically modified corn varieties, use of an intense sweetener in food, and a national safety standard for poultry meat.

Once changes have been made to food standards in the Code, food businesses must comply immediately with the new regulations, unless a phase-in period has been allowed.

Enforcement agencies in the States and Territories and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) continually monitor the food supply to ensure compliance with the Code. They can take action in the courts if the regulations have been breached.

Imported foods must also comply with the provisions of the Code. In Australia, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) checks food at the border, while NZFSA carries out this task in New Zealand.

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Corn rootworm-protected and glyphosate-tolerant corn MON 88017
(Application A548 –Draft Assessment)

Monsanto Australia Ltd has produced a genetically modified corn variety that protects against corn rootworm and is tolerant to glyphosate herbicide. Monsanto has applied to FSANZ for approval for food derived from this GM corn to enter the food supply. GM foods must undergo a pre-market safety assessment before they can be sold as food in Australia and New Zealand. We have conducted this assessment and have concluded that this GM corn is as safe as corn produced by conventional means. We are inviting comment on our intention to approve food from this insect-protected and herbicide-tolerant corn.

Initial assessment report: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/A548%20GM%20Corn%20IAR%20FINAL.pdf
Draft assessment report: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/A548_GM%20_corn_DAR.pdf


Insect-protected corn MIR 604
(Application A564 –Draft Assessment)

Syngenta Seeds Pty Ltd is seeking approval for food derived from a corn variety that has been genetically modified to protect against a number of insect pests, including three species of corn rootworm. We have examined the toxicity, allergenicity and other characteristics of this GM corn and have concluded that it is as safe to consumers as non-GM varieties of corn. We intend to approve its use in the food supply. If the novel DNA and/or novel protein is present in the food, its GM status will be identified on the food label, as required by existing regulations.

Initial assessment report: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/A564%20GM%20corn%20IAR_FINAL.pdf
Draft assessment report: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/A564%20_GM_corn_DAR.pdf

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Submissions: FSANZ welcomes public comment from industry, public health professionals, government agencies and consumers. Details of all the assessments above can be found on http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/standardsdevelopment/documentsforpublicco868.cfm. 

Submissions close on 1 February 2006, except for P293, which closes on 22 February 2006.