FSANZ seeks to align its code to international terminology

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comments regarding the naming and classification of certain chemical use as it seeks to align the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code with standards used by international regulatory bodies.

Changes are being proposed for Schedule 22 of this code in order to increase compliance with the enforcement of maximum residue limits (or MRLs) for agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals in food production. Separately but relatedly, FSANZ is seeking to alter the current levels of MRLs to match regulatory recommendations.

The newly appointed FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said that the suggested changes would align the classes for food in the FSANZ code with those of international food standards body Codex.

“The proposed changes are designed to provide clarity for enforcement agencies, government regulators, farmers, retailers and importers who need to know which MRL applies to a particular food produced or imported for sale in Australia,” Dr Cuthbert said.

“Codex classifications form the basis of systems used by many of our international trading partners and the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) in establishing MRLs in Australia.

“The changes also will help to promote international harmonisation of food standards, assisting trading partners requesting to align MRLs for agvet chemicals for food import purposes.”

These proposed changes do not impact the actual MRLs, just the terminology to classify them.

Submissions will be taken until 5 May. To submit comments regarding the proposal, you can do so at the page below.

https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/code/changes/Pages/Documents-for-public-comment.aspx

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