Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has been directly involved in shaping global food standards and has worked to harmonise Australian and New Zealand food regulations with international standards.
The organisation has led and participated in multiple Codex Alimentarius Commission committees, which develop international food standards and codes of practice to protect consumer health, ensure fair food trade practices, and encourage coordination between government standard-setting agencies. This has helped ensure food safety and quality worldwide while promoting the harmonisation of regulations domestically and internationally.
“Agricultural and veterinary chemical standards provide a good example of harmonisation. Every year, FSANZ runs a public process to harmonise maximum residue limits – or MRLs - for agvet chemicals on food for sale with Codex standards and those of other countries or regions,” said an FSANZ spokesperson.
“Harmonised MRLs enable imports and exports of agricultural products by ensuring compliance with domestic standards and the requirements of trading partners while ensuring the protection of public health and safety, our number one priority.”
Other areas where FSANZ has recently undertaken harmonisation work include infant formula and kava standards.
The spokesperson added that various food standards proposals and applications of interest to FMCG businesses were underway or nearing completion. FSANZ has sought public comment on proposed changes to caffeine regulations through Proposal P1056. This review is considering the safety of caffeine in energy drinks and sports foods, particularly for at-risk groups like children and pregnant women.
Decisions were expected soon on energy labelling on alcoholic beverages, clarifying permissions for carbohydrate and sugar claims on alcoholic beverages, and an Australian-first approval of cell-cultured quail.
“Our priority is to ensure that new food technologies are safe while enabling responsible innovation in the food sector. We take an evidence-based approach to assessing novel ingredients, considering both safety and broader implications.”
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