Australian food standards, CODEX style

The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the authority that develops food standards for composition, labelling and contaminants for food products for sale in Australia and New Zealand - confirmed this week that it applies a risk and evidence based approach to the development of food regulatory measures, paying particular heed to the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).

Writing in the June issue of Food Standards News, FSANZ's monthly newsletter, chief scientist Dr Marion Healy affirms that over the past several months FSANZ staff have participated in meetings of Committees/Taskforce of the CAC that resulted in guidance which may impact on the way in which FSANZ​ develops/reviews food standards and undertakes other functions.

On the subject of risk analysis Healy writes that the proposed risk analysis principles to apply within the framework of the Codex Alimentarius are being finalised by the Codex Committee on General Principles (CCGP). Principles are proposed for the three stages of risk analysis (risk assessment, risk management and risk communication), and if adopted, it is expected that Codex Committees and Taskforces will apply the principles. The CCGP also held preliminary discussions on principles for risk analysis for food safety purposes that would be applied by member countries.

The application of risk analysis to nutritional issues is gradually being implemented in the work of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Food for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU). According to the FSANZ article, the first step has been the recognition of the use of upper safe levels for nutrients in developing appropriate permissions for the addition of vitamins and minerals. At its next meeting CCNFSDU will consider the application of risk analysis more generally, particularly in relation to the principles that have been developed by CCGP.

A broad framework for applying risk analysis to foods derived from biotechnology, together with guidance on conducting safety assessments for foods developed using recombinant plants and recombinant micro-organisms have also been finalised. The Taskforce on Foods Derived From Biotechnology developed these three guidance texts during its four year life span, and they are the first to address the health and safety aspects of foods derived from modern biotechnology developed within the Codex framework.

Turning to 'information exchange' Healy explains that the CCFICS examined in detail a revision of the guidelines for the exchange of information in food emergency situations. Although this revised guideline is still in the early stages of development, it is likely in the future to assist FSANZ obtain information more rapidly as food borne hazards are identified, particularly those potentially affecting food products imported into Australia. [Note FoodNavigator.com news on upcoming conference organised by the European Commission on communicating risk concerns]. The official reports summarising the discussions and outcomes from the meetings of the Committees/Taskforces of the CAC can be accessed on the Codex​ website.