Imported kava – update to the definition of permitted kava products and labelling requirements for retail ready packs and bulk imported kava not for immediate retail sale.    Source: Dept Agriculture, water and Environment

Failing imported food reports for January 2020

List of – 22 products that failed testing.    Source: Dept Agriculture, water and Environment

Call for submissions and comments

Proposal – P1028 Infant Formula: To revise and clarify standards relating to infant formula products comprising category definitions, composition, labelling and representation of products. Deadline 10th June.    Source: FSANZ

M1019 - Review of Schedule 22 – Foods and classes of foods.    Source: FSANZ

A1244 - Chymosin from GM Trichoderma reesei as a processing aid (enzyme).    Source: FSANZ

Plasticisers in Australian Foods. A survey of the levels of seven plasticisers which may be used in food packaging materials found the levels were generally low. Estimated dietary exposure for Australian consumers was below internationally recognised safe levels.    Source: FSANZ

Food Recalls

Kahlua Espresso Martini – alcohol content mislabelled.    Source: NSW Food Authority

Coles Baby Spinach - potential microbial (Salmonella) contamination.    Source: NSW Food Authority

Coles Organic Unsweetened Coconut Milk - undeclared allergen - milk. The label also incorrectly advises the product is suitable for vegans.    Source: NSW Food Authority

Various Ferrero Kinder chocolate products - potential microbial (Salmonella) contamination.    Source: NSW Food Authority

Malt Brewing Co PTY LTD (Revel Brewing Co) Pine Lime Sour Ale - potential secondary fermentation.    Source: NSW Food Authority

Trans Oriental Import and Export Garden Fortune Cookies - chemical (naphthalene) contamination.   Source: FSANZ

Macro Certified Organic plant-based milks - presence of an undeclared allergen (milk).    Source: NSW Good Authority

Barossa Fresh Lamb Mince and Beef Mince - presence of foreign matter (plastic, metal).    Source: FSANZ

Vegan Perfection Golden Crunch Vegan Honeycomb - presence of an undeclared allergen (milk) (milk is not vegan!).    Source: NSW Food Authority

Terra Madre Organic Vegan Chocolate Coated Almonds - undeclared allergens (tree nuts [cashew and hazelnut].    Source: FSANZ

Call for submissions and comments

Proposal – P1028 Infant Formula: To revise and clarify standards relating to infant formula products comprising category definitions, composition, labelling and representation of products. Deadline 10th June.    Source: FSANZ

M1019 - Review of Schedule 22 – Foods and classes of foods.    Source: FSANZ

A1244 - Chymosin from GM Trichoderma reesei as a processing aid (enzyme).    Source: FSANZ

Download a list of chemicals on the inventory. AICIS has published a downloadable spreadsheet containing all the chemicals on their database. However this may not be very useful as it contains the database up until 10th February 2022 and will not be updated until later this year. AICIS says it “may not be complete, accurate and up-to-date, should not be relied on for the latest information about a chemical – you must search the online Inventory to see if your chemical is listed and what any terms of its listing are, does not include chemicals that cannot be disclosed to the public because the terms are confidentially listed on the Inventory”. Anyway, you can find it here.

No longer need your AICIS registration? If you have stopped importing industrial chemicals (includes ingredients in cosmetics) and don't wish to continue your registration there is a way to notify AICIS so you do not receive reminders when it's time to renew.    Source: AICIS.

Chemicals added to the Inventory 5 years after issue of assessment certificate – update as of 4th March.    Source: AICIS.

New Zealand

Sunscreens with SPF greater than 15+ will now be regulated. The Sunscreen (Product Safety Standard Bill) has been passed and industry has 18 months to comply with the AS/NZS 2604:2012 standard. New Zealand and Australia have the world’s highest incidence of skin cancer and melanoma.    Source: NZ Parliament. The legislation is here.

Update on Therapeutic and Natural Health Products legislation. The bill will be introduced to NZ parliament by the end of 2022. NHPs won’t be regulated as therapeutic products or as foods, they will have their own regulations under the Bill.    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health and also here

Natural Health Products NZ comments on the Therapeutic and Natural Health Products legislation. The industry association is concerned that the Bill is not permitting “Therapeutic” claims, only “Health Benefit” claims. They believe that the bill should be amended to permit all the claims allowed in Canada and Australia.    Source: Natural Health Products NZ.

A guide to advertising Rapid Antigen Test Kits. There is a prohibition on importing, manufacturing, supplying, selling, packing, or using a point-of-care test for SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 unless the Director-General of Health has authorised the person’s activity or exempted the point-of-care test from the prohibition. This link also links to a list of permitted RAT kits.    Source: NZ Advertising Standards Authority

Comparative Advertising. Comparative ads must only compare like with like, must not disparage competitors and must be factual and accurate.    Source: NZ Advertising Standards Authority

A message from our friends at Natural health Products New Zealand:

NZ government recognises natural health products for symptomatic relief. Paradoxically the NZ government is recommending natural health products for symptomatic relief, whilst they've been telling the sector for years that the regulations don't permit these sorts of claims. Natural Health Products NZ has been asking them to fix this issue for decades. Are they finally realizing that consumers have a right to know this information? We hope so! Read more here: https://www.naturalhealthproducts.nz/government-recognises-natural-health-products-for-symptomatic-relief/

Pharmacovigilance – important reading for all suppliers/sponsors and manufacturers of complementary medicines! This is an often overlooked responsibility and the TGA is now issuing fines for non-compliance - see next story. RFA offers a 1.5 hour course (much cheaper than getting a fine!) which includes a full set of documents and procedures. Courses are conducted by via Zoom, by appointment. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details or go here: https://rfaregulatoryaffairs.com/training-courses .

Information also publicly available on CMA website.

Compliance enforcement

Ferngrove Pharmaceuticals fined $13,320 for alleged breaches of legislation in relation to pharmacovigilance - failure to provide information on a contact person responsible for medicine safety.    TGA

Kardwi Pharmaceuticals fined $13,320 for alleged breaches of legislation in relation to pharmacovigilance - failure to provide information on a contact person responsible for medicine safety.    TGA

Shen Neng Herbal Medicines Group fined $53,280 for alleged breaches of legislation - breaching a condition of listing and failing to provide information to the TGA. The same company was fined $100,800 in 2020 in relation to breaches of supply, labelling and pharmacovigilance.    Source: TGA

Dentist fined $5,328 for alleged unlawful importation of Botox.    TGA

CheckMe fined $13,320 for alleged unlawful import of rapid antigen test kits.    TGA

G1 Resources fined $26,640 for alleged importation and advertising of unapproved rapid antigen tests.    TGA

Cat Media fined $39,960 for advertising unregistered weight-loss products. This is the third time that the TGA has issued such notices to Cat Media.    TGA

24K Rhino capsules – tested and found to contain undeclared sildenafil.    Source: TGA

Advertising Code. A very useful FAQ page, a “must” read. Explains some important issues especially testimonials and endorsements. This explains the TGA decisions. Other topics include mandatory statements, health warnings, short form advertisements, restricted representations and social media advertising.    Source: TGA

Transitioning to the new Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code. Mandatory statement requirements in the 2021 Code have been simplified and reduced in number.    Source: TGA

Training course in advertising: RFA offers a one hour training course on advertising. Information here: https://rfaregulatoryaffairs.com/training-courses

Reporting medicine adverse events – a presentation delivered by the TGA on 30th March.    Source: TGA

Urgent national product recall. iNova Pharmaceuticals has recalled a batch of Kynd Stress Relief tablets containing the equivalent of 6 g of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) per tablet, due to an unexpected number of allergic reactions.    Source: TGA

Ingredients permitted in listed medicines. Updated in April 2022, a list of the 2 added ingredients and 5 changed ingredients.    Source: TGA

Bacillus coagulans Strain MTCC 5856 a compositional guideline has been published.    Source: TGA

Good Manufacturing Practice – summary of TGA-Industry Working Group meeting on 25th February.    Source: TGA

TGA performance review. This covers the period 1st July to 31st December 2021, and includes processing and approval times. During this time there were 1,055 new listed medicine applications.    Source: TGA

Updates to standard for medicinal cannabis. Includes 2022 updates. This is for manufacturers and sponsors, to assist in ensuring medicinal cannabis products conform with Therapeutic Goods Order 93.    Source: TGA

Webinar: Medicinal cannabis reforms. Contents of a webinar delivered by the TGA explaining the changes to TGO 93.    Source: TGA

Approved COVID-19 rapid antigen self-tests. This list is regularly updates by the TGA.    Source: TGA

Medical devices reforms. Consumer Working Group of costumer and patient representatives meets regularly.  A small working group of volunteers formed the Medical Devices Action Plan Consumer Working Group.    Source: TGA

Therapeutic Goods Advertising Consultative Committee. Last met on 21st March. Among other issues, the Committee discussed the issue of the supply of therapeutic goods that are not included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) and considered whether allowing references to the TGA in advertising would enable consumers to more easily distinguish therapeutic goods that are on the ARTG.    Source: TGA

Do you import kava for sale or wholesale in NSW? From 1 December last year, commercial imports of kava from Pacific Island nations resumed. From this date, importers have been able to apply for a permit to bring kava into Australia. There are important regulatory requirements and steps that must be taken in order to comply with the Food Act 2003 (NSW) (the Act) and the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) for the labelling and sale of kava in NSW.    Source: NSW Food Authority

Definition of “meat”, and labelling of plant based proteins. This is a report of a federal government committee. It states “The perception of competition between the traditional category of meat protein and manufactured plant-based protein was not borne out in consumption or consumer trends”. The committee looked for clarity on labelling terms such as “plant-based burger”. A list of 9 recommendations is contained in their 111 page report.    Source: Australian Federal Parliament.

Country of origin labelling. This recent report states that the current regulations are well planned and implemented and should be retained.    Source: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.

Food Recalls

Uncle's Smallgoods is conducting a recall of sliced ham due to microbial contamination (listeria monocytogenes).    Source: FSANZ

Failing imported food reports for December 2021

Risk food test results – five products seized (Japan, Zambia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand) problems included excess iodine and histamine, insect infestation, mould, and a prohibited plant.    Source: Dept Agriculture, water and Environment

Surveillance food tests – 15 products, problems included non-permitted ingredients, adulterated honey, and prohibited plants.    Source: Dept Agriculture, water and Environment

Food Standards Development Work Plan

A comprehensive summary of applications received, and proposals prepared, before and from 1 October 2007 onwards.    Source: FSANZ

Call for comment: The use of Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as a processing aid for the antimicrobial treatment of raw poultry.    Source: FSANZ

FSANZ has approved the following draft variation Proposal P1057– Review of the kava standard:​    Source: FSANZ

FSANZ has approved variations arising from the following applications and proposals and has notified these approvals to the Food Ministers' Meeting:

A1212  – Beta-fructofuranosidase enzyme from Aspergillus fijiensis 

A1230 – Very Low Energy Diets (VLED)​

A1231 - Maltogenic alpha-amylase from GM Escherichia coli as a processing aid (enzyme)​

In the media:

Reading food labels. Interesting article on what claims are regulated, and which are not (such as "wholesome", "natural", "free" and "nutritious"). How to read a food label.    Source: Sydney Morning Herald/Good Food Guide.

Popular diet rules: Fact or Fiction? Includes carbs, calories, fats, and when to eat.    Source: Body and Soul.

Are protein bars healthy? How much protein do you need and from what source?    Source: Sydney Morning Herald.

Plant based protein: cost and taste issues.    Source: Sydney Morning Herald.