FSANZ calls for comment on raw milk products proposal and GM soybean product

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has called for public comment on a report looking at permissions for raw milk products in Australia and an application for food derived from a genetically modified soybean.

FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said Proposal 1007 was looking at whether or not permission should be given for raw milk (non-pasteurised) products to be sold in Australia.

“The assessment of these products looked at what production and processing measures and product characteristics are needed to provide a high level of safety for consumers,” Mr McCutcheon said.

“In its second assessment report, FSANZ is seeking comment on its recommendation to permit non-pasteurised hard to very hard cooked curd cheeses. This will involve changes to the Food Standards Code relating to storage time and moisture content requirements.”

Mr McCutcheon said FSANZ would continue to look at permissions for other raw milk cheeses through a new proposal that will use technical work already completed through P1007.

“Other raw milk cheeses are being considered separately because a wider range of processing measures and product characteristics need to be considered.

“The assessment work for P1007 concluded that raw drinking milk presents too high a risk to consider any permission in the Code. In the new proposal, FSANZ will also be reviewing the current exemption that allows raw goat milk.”

FSANZ is also calling for comment on Application A1051, which is seeking permission for food derived from a genetically modified soybean with a tolerance to the herbicides glyphosate and isoxaflutole, to provide a broader weed management strategy.

FSANZ’s latest notification circular also contains information about approvals of Application A1026 – Minimum Alcohol Content for Wine, and Application A1042 – Food derived from Herbicide-tolerant Corn Line DAS-40278-9.

Approvals are notified to the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council. After notification the council has 60 days to either ask FSANZ to review the application or inform FSANZ that it does not intend to request a review.

More information:

• P1007 – Primary Production and Processing Requirements for Raw Milk Products
• Raw Milk – Questions and answers
• Application 1051 – Food derived from Herbicide-tolerant Soybean
• Application A1026 – Minimum Alcohol Content for Wine
• Application A1042 – Food derived from Herbicide-tolerant Corn Line DAS-40278-9