Food ministers protect public health and support industry innovation

The ninth meeting of the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council was held in Sydney and chaired by Christopher Pyne, parliamentary secretary to the Australian Government Minister for Health and Ageing.

At the meeting the council considered a number of policy and food standards issues, several of which are still in train and will be reported on after the next meeting in May 2007. Matters considered included:

Policy guideline for the regulation of residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food

The council has agreed to a policy guideline on regulation of low level residues from agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food. This policy guideline will be forwarded to Food Standards Australia New Zealand for considering alternative approaches to the current zero tolerance approach to the regulation of residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food.

National food safety audit policy

The ministerial council has agreed to a national food safety audit policy. The policy will promote uniformity and consistency in the management of food safety auditors and auditing within Australia, and where possible, facilitate equivalence with New Zealand. The policy with be implemented over the next five years.

Mandatory fortification with folate

All ministerial council members reinforced their commitment to reduce the number of neural tube defects through mandatory fortification with folic acid as quickly as possible.

The ministerial council discussed the final assessment report from Food Standards Australia New Zealand on a proposal for consideration of mandatory fortification of food with folic acid.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand has been asked to review the proposed standard due to technical considerations with the implementation of the standard, and compliance issues, within six months.

Trans fatty acids

The ministerial council received an update from Food Standards Australia New Zealand on its review of the level of trans fatty acids in Australian food. Food Standards Australia New Zealand expects to provide its final report on this matter to the ministerial council at its next meeting in May 2007.

Front-of-pack nutrition labelling system

Council members considered a proposal to examine a front-of-pack nutrition labelling scheme, including traffic light labelling similar to one in the UK, that provides consumers at-a-glance information about nutritional content of foods.