Review of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code

The review commenced in July 2020. The plan is to reform the bi-national food regulation system to ensure it remains strong, robust and agile into the future. Option 1 is the status quo (proposes no legislative changes to the FSANZ Act), while Option 2 and 3 present increasingly ambitious suites of measures that could be taken to amend the FSANZ Act. You can read about this and review the consultation here, and provide your comments here. The due date for comments is 18th May.

Formulated Supplementary Sports Foods - review

A proposal has been formally prepared to review Standard 2.9.4 – Formulated supplementary sports foods. Other standard that may been involved are Standard 2.6.2 - Non-alcoholic Beverages and Brewed Soft Drinks - regulates electrolyte drinks and bases – and Standard 2.9.3 - Formulated Meal replacements and Formulated Supplementary Foods - may regulate some products used for sport.    Source: FSNZ

Updated Guide to Allergen Management and Labelling

Managing the risks associated with food allergens is a major food safety challenge for food producers and suppliers. To help food businesses manage these risks the Allergen Bureau and the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) have just released an updated version of the Food Industry Guide to Allergen Management and Labelling. The update incorporates new requirements for the labelling of allergens in food arising from Proposal P1044 – Plain English Allergen Labelling­. A copy of the guide is available from the Allergen Bureau and the AFGC.    Source: Food Standards Newsletter

Failing food report for February 2021

This report lists food that has failed under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme during February 2021. Table 1 shows results of tests on risk foods. Five foods were rejected due to Salmonella (hulled sesame seeds), aflatoxin (two different peanut products) and histamine (two products – Maldive fish and fresh tuna). Table 2 lists other surveillance issues found with 21 different products. Five products contained vitamins not permitted in that type of food. A herbal syrup from India contained Borago officinalis (borage) which is prohibited in foods (but it is permitted in listed complementary medicines if the preparation is a fixed oil derived from the seeds).    Source: Dept Agriculture.

Failing food report for March 2021

Once again, “risk food test results” includes products with listeria, salmonella, E. coli, aflatoxins, hydrocyanic acid, and one containing the prohibited plant betel nut. “Surveillance food test results” includes foods with vitamins not permitted to be added to that type of food, and other additives exceeding maximum permitted limits.    Source: Dept Agriculture

Legislation update: statement of ingredients in food on labels

Standard 1.2.4: Information requirements – statement of ingredients - amended 25th Feb 2021.    Source: legislation.gov.au

Legislation update: infant formula products

Incorporates a change to the requirements for inulin-type fructans and galacto‑oligosaccharides.    Source: legislation.gov.au.

Approvals and amendments to the Food Standards Code

A1204 – Beta-amylase from soybean (Glycine max) as a processing aid (enzyme)

A1191 – Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (INS 471) as glazing agent for fruits and vegetables

A1202 – Food derived from herbicide-tolerant and insect-protected corn line DP23211.    Source: FSANZ

Call for comment on a new form of Vitamin B3 (niacin) 

FSANZ is calling for comment on the use of nicotinamide riboside chloride as a form of vitamin B3 in food for special medical purposes (FSMPs). If approved, nicotinamide riboside chloride would be added to the Code for use as a form of niacin in FSMPs.    Source: FSANZ

Consumer information about food regulations

Published by FSANZ, this is a helpful summary to additives, chemicals in food, food safety, genetically modified foods, labelling and nutrition.    Source: FSANZ

Information on food labelling

A useful guide to food labelling regulations. Topics include how to read a label, understanding claims, food production, stay safe, and labels and the law.    Source: NSW Food Authority.

Name and shame register of penalty notices

NSW Health has for some time maintained a register of penalty notices issued to food establishments, searchable by date, locality, and trading name.    Source: NSW Food Authority.

Recent food recalls

Include Bondi Protein Co Vegan Protein Bar (two flavours) – undeclared allergen (peanut), Naturally Good Super Paleo Breakfast Biscuits -  due to potential for an increase in moisture which may lead to microbial growth, and Byron Bay Pizza Co. BBQ Birdie frozen pizza -  presence of an undeclared allergen (fish), Xiang Hai Crab Flavour Crisp Chips - undeclared allergen (egg), Coles Tasmanian Smoked Salmon – incorrect Use By Date, Taylor Rd IGA Pork Chipolatas - undeclared allergens (gluten and soy).    Sources: FSANZ and NSW Food Authority.

Conditions placed on sunscreens that were tested by AMA Laboratories in the USA.

Sunscreens must be tested to validate the SPF claims. In August 2019 the US FDA announced that several executives and supervising laboratory technicians of AMA Laboratories had pleaded guilty to fraudulent laboratory testing. In September 2020, the TGA contacted all sponsors of Australian sunscreens notifying them of its post-market review of sunscreens.  Sponsors must provide adequate justification for ongoing supply of products that have been tested by AMA Laboratories, such as additional supportive testing data conducted by an independent testing laboratory.    Source: TGA

A list of chemicals added to the Inventory 5 years after issue of assessment certificate

AICIS has released a list of chemicals added to the database from 23^rd February to 10^th March 2021.    Source: AICIS news.

Guide to categorisation of fluorinated chemicals

This is relevant to importers of products that are fluorinated chemicals. A fluorinated chemical is a chemical that contains one or more fluorine atoms.    Source: AICIS

Soap making and importing

This is a useful guide for importers and manufacturers of soaps and explains when you need to register your business details. It includes information on the processes used to make soaps, and soaps made from natural or organic ingredients.    Source: AICIS

Banned or restricted chemicals

Bans and restrictions on chemicals and consumer product ingredients – including cosmetics – are regulated by each state and territory authority. This explains how different chemical are regulated, and lists over 10 different government authorities that may be involved including The Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons, The Therapeutic Goods Administration, The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, The Department of the Environment and Energy, Safe Work Australia, The National Transport Commission, Australian Border Force, The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Australian National Security.    Source: AICIS

TGA conducting forum on GMP

This will be a virtual event, to be held from Wednesday 12th to Friday 14th May, free of charge for members of the industry. More information is available here, and to register to attend click here.

Half yearly performance snapshot: July to December 2020

The TGA prepares an annual TGA Business Plan, which identifies the priority activities being undertaken over the financial year and is available on the TGA website. This Half Yearly Performance Snapshot provides statistical information for the period 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2020 in relation to the regulation of therapeutic goods, tracking of progress against some of the priorities identified for the year. This data will be incorporated into the Annual Performance Statistics Report for the 2020-21 financial year, to be published on the TGA website in the second half of 2021.    Source: TGA news

Update on the poisons scheduling of psilocybin and MDMA

An independent review has been commissioned into the therapeutic value, risks and benefits to public health outcomes for these substances. Amended timing on the scheduling process for these substances will be published on the TGA website following the completion of the independent review.    Source: TGA

Changes to regulation of nicotine e-cigarettes

These changes affect nicotine e-cigarettes, nicotine vaping products (also known as eJuice, vape juice, eLiquid), and novel nicotine delivery systems, such as heat-not-burn tobacco products. They do NOT affect nicotine replacement therapies, such as sprays, patches, lozenges, chews and gums, or e-cigarette products that do not contain vaporiser nicotine. From 1st October you will no longer be able to legally buy these products from overseas websites without first talking with a GP and getting a prescription. These products cannot be sold anywhere in Australia without a doctor's prescription, and the possession and use of these products without a prescription is illegal in all states and territories except South Australia. Between 2015 and 2019, e-cigarette use by young people increased by 96 per cent in Australia. There is evidence that nicotine e-cigarettes act as a 'gateway' to smoking in youth and exposure to nicotine in adolescents may have long-term consequences for brain development.    Source: TGA

Advertising health services

An advertisement for a health service is not considered an advertisement for therapeutic goods, unless you refer to therapeutic goods used in the delivery of the service in the advertisement. Products mentioned in this summary guide include cosmetic injectables, medicinal cannabis, compounding pharmacies, vaccine providers, biologics, and more.    Source: TGA

Decisions to amend, or not to amend, the poisons scheduling of certain substances as at 22nd April

This mentions substances that have had their poisons scheduling amended, and those that have not been changed, and discusses the reasons for the decisions. Includes amygdalin and hydrocyanic acid, bilastine, budesonide and formoterol, azoxystrobin, triticonazole, azelaic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2- HEMA), magnesium hydroxide, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, cannabidiol.    Source: TGA

Supply and wholesaling of medicinal cannabis products (MCP)

Both sponsors of products, and other persons who are not the sponsor, are prohibited from supplying unregistered MCP by wholesale. This guide summarises the compliance obligations associated with the storage and supply of the products.    Source: TGA

Regulation of medical device software

This is a TGA presentation delivered at an industry masterclass. When is software a medical device? A summary of reforms and international alignment.    Source: TGA

TGA case studies

The TGA is publishing case studies to provide examples of how regulations are enforced.

Food-medicine interface: the example given is a complaint about advertising which presented products as formulated supplementary sports foods, but included claims of a therapeutic nature, including conditions such as depression and autoimmune conditions. The company did not take sufficient action after being contacted by the TGA, so was issued infringement notices totalling $301,400 for 21 counts of advertising therapeutic goods not on the ARTG, two counts of using a prohibited representation and one count of using a restricted representation without TGA authorisation. The company paid the infringement notices.

Homeopathic melatonin: the product was not prepared according to homoeopathic principles and the amount of melatonin present was not sufficient to justify the claims. It was decided that describing these medicines as homeopathic melatonin could be misleading.

Weight loss products: the example given here is one of the “FatBlaster” products. The sponsor of the product could not provide satisfactory evidence to support the claims being made. The product was cancelled on 20 December 2019.

Restricted representations: multiple complaints were received about BioCharger, a medical device that emitted light, but was not included on the Australian Register. Claims on Facebook implied the BioCharger was capable of having an effect on COVID-19, as it was 'programmed with about a thousand different recipes, there's a couple on there for Wuhan coronavirus'. The company website contained other therapeutic claims. The company paid two infringements notices totalling $25,200. The device was being sold for $15,000.

Review of the 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has received $2.5 million from the federal government to review the guidelines. The first step will be a scan of the latest nutrition science research and evidence.    Source: NHMRC.

Advertising of “toddler milk”

The Victorian Health Department is calling for an end to aggressive marketing of toddler milk formulas, as new research reveals some products are up to four times more expensive than regular milk, but with more sugar and fewer key nutrients. Also, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) proposes to re-authorise a longstanding agreement by manufacturers to not promote infant formula, to protect rates of breastfeeding. There is concern the industry is trying to “work around” the restriction on infant formula advertising by promoting “toddler milk”.    Source: VicHealth and ACCC

New Zealand man fined for biosecurity breaches

An Auckland businessman Sanjive Ramavtar Kapoor from Divine Logistics was sentenced after pleading guilty to three charges which included unauthorised opening of shipping containers and falsifying documents. Mr Kapoor redirected containers from Approved Transitional Facilities 22 times between 21 June 2018 and 31 January 2019. Mr Kapoor admitted to opening and unpacking 12 of these containers. He was fined NZ$30,000.    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries.

Declaration of allergens on food labels – changes

There is a move to plain English labelling. There are some new allergens, “nuts” or “tree nuts” must now contain the names of these nuts, specific cereals must be listed by name rather than grouped together as “cereals” – and many other changes .Summary of work to date can be found here, here, and here.    Source: FSANZ. Relevant legislation is here.

Failing food report for January 2021

This report lists food that has failed under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS) during January 2021. Table 1 shows results of tests on rick foods. Salmonella, E. coli, aflatoxin and histamine levels remain a problem. Table 2 lists other surveillance issues, including non-permitted additives.    Source: Dept Agriculture.

Approvals and amendments to the Food Standards Code

A1204 – Beta-amylase from soybean (Glycine max) as a processing aid (enzyme)

P1051 – Code Revision (2020)

A1555 – 2’-FL and LNnT in infant formula and other products

A1175 – Rapeseed protein isolate as a novel food

A1180 – Natural Glycolipids as a preservative in non-alcoholic beverages

A1186 – Soy Leghaemoglobin in analogue meat

Source: FSANZ

Food recalls

FSANZ has published a summary of food recalls over the last 10 years. The main reasons for recalls were microbial contamination, labelling, foreign matter, chemical/other contaminants, undeclared allergen, biotoxin and “other”. During 2020, there were 33 recalls due to undeclared allergens.    FSANZ Sources: recalls due to allergens, current food recalls.

Facts sheet on GM Foods

How they are made, labelling, and what types of GM foods are sold in Australia and New Zealand.    Source: FSANZ