FSANZ calls for submission on sweeteners, pig antibiotics

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has called for submissions on two applications. The first is a request for a wider range of steviol glycosides to be used as intense sweeteners and the second is an application to consider incorporating certain maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the veterinary chemical avilamycin in the Food Standards Code.

FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said PureCircle Limited is seeking to amend the definition of steviol glycosides in the Food Standards Code to include all minor steviol glycosides extracted from the stevia leaf.

“Steviol glycosides are permitted food additives in the Codex Alimentarius General Standard for Food Additives, and in many countries including the USA, the European Union, Canada and many Asian, and Central and South American countries,” McCutcheon said.

The additional minor steviol glycosides are claimed to provide improved flavour and taste compared to those currently permitted.

McCutcheon said no evidence was found to suggest that the proposed changes pose any public health and safety concerns.

The closing date for submissions is 6 pm, 19 December 2016.

Elanco Animal Health has submitted the application to harmonise MRLs for avilamycin in specific pig products, aligning the Food Standards Code with international Codex Alimentarius Standards.

McCutcheon said Avilamycin is an antibiotic which has existing permissions for use in poultry products in Australia and is approved for use overseas in pig products.

“After undertaking extensive dietary exposure assessments and reviewing the best available toxicological and microbiological data, FSANZ has determined that there are no public health or safety issues associated with the proposed MRL in specific pig products with the proposed permitted residue dichloroisoeverninic acid,” he said.

The closing date for submissions on this application is 6 pm, 5 December 2016.