In 2020, the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) issued a large number of food policies and regulations. In this regard, foodmate conducted an inventory and compiled ten major food policies.

1. Australia and New Zealand approve irradiation technology as a phytosanitary measure for all fresh fruits and vegetables

On January 7, 2020, the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) issued Announcement No. 107-20, approving irradiation technology as a phytosanitary measure for all fresh fruits and vegetables. It is understood that this application was made by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. The purpose of irradiation is to kill pests in fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables that are allowed to use irradiation technology include all fresh fruits and vegetables described in Schedule 22 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, and any other fresh commodities that are generally understood as fruits or vegetables, including plants grown overseas, but excluding dried beans Classes, beans, nuts and seeds. The minimum and maximum absorbed doses of irradiation for all fruits and vegetables are 150 gray (Gy) and 1000 gray (Gy) respectively.

2. Australia and New Zealand intends to modify the warning labels on alcoholic beverages

On February 17, 2020, the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) Notice No. 113-20 proposed to approve the addition of warning labels for pregnant women on the labels of alcoholic beverages. It is known that the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand solicited opinions on this issue on October 4, 2019, and it ended on October 27, 2019. The main revisions are as follows: 1. The circle and line of the warning pictogram and signal text need to be replaced with red for the specific Pantone 485 red. 2. Amend the warning statement to "Alcohol may cause lifelong harm to babies, any amount of alcohol can harm your baby".

3. Australia and New Zealand approve the use of 2’-FL and LNnT in some infant products

According to the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) news, on February 21, 2020, the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand issued Notice 114-20, which approved application A1155 for use in infant formula products and complementary foods for infant formula2'-fucosyllactose, 2'-FL or mixed with LNnT. It is understood that these two oligosaccharides are found in human milk and are produced by microbial fermentation by the transgenic Escherichia coli K12 production strains SCR6 and MP572 respectively. They have the functions of regulating immunity, improving intestinal barrier function and reducing allergic reactions. Several countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas allow these two oligosaccharides to be added to a range of foods.

4. Australia and New Zealand amended the residue limit of imidazole nicotinic acid in barley grains

On February 26, 2020, the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) approved application A1181, allowing the increase of the maximum residue limit of imazapyr in barley grains from 0.05 ppm to 0.7 ppm. It is understood that this application was filed by BASF Australia Ltd. and FSANZ has assessed that the relaxation of the imidazolate residue limit in barley grains poses a negligible health and safety risk to consumers.

5. Australia and New Zealand intends to revise the definition of genetic technology in the Food Standards Code

On February 28, 2020, the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) issued Notice 116-20 to revise the definitions of "food produced by genetic technology" and "gene technology" in the Food Standards Code, to make it clearer and better reflect existing and emerging genetic technologies, including new breeding technologies. FSANZ has been studying how the Food Standards Code applies to foods obtained using new breeding techniques (NBT foods). In December 2019, the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Agency released the final report of NBT Food Review. Through this report, it is found that although the society has different opinions on the safety and regulations of NBT food, the general consensus is that the current definition no longer meets the goal and is not clear enough. So it is proposed to amend the definitions in the Code to make the definitions more clear and ensure that they cover existing and emerging genetic technologies.

6. Australia and New Zealand intends to approve genetically modified corn MON87429 for food

On March 26, 2020, the Australia and New Zealand Food Standards Agency issued Notice No. 119-20, including application No. A1192 for approval of genetically modified corn MON87429 for food. It is understood that this application was submitted by Monsanto Australia Proprietary Limited. The genetically modified corn MON87429 can tolerate glufosinate, dicamba, 2,4-D and aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicides.

7. Australia and New Zealand intends to approve genetically modified soybean GMB 151 for food

On April 14, 2020, the Australia and New Zealand Food Standards Agency issued Notice No. 120-20, including application No. A1196 for approval of genetically modified soybean GMB 151 for use in food. It is understood that this application was submitted by BASF Australia Ltd on behalf of BASF Agricultural Solutions Seed US LLC. The genetically modified soybean GMB 151 can tolerate 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitor herbicides and is also resistant to nematodes.

8. Australia and New Zealand intends to approve two enzyme preparations from genetically modified Aspergillus niger as processing aids

According to the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) news,they issued Notice No. 127-20 on June 22, 2020, in which applications No. A1184 and A1185 respectively applied for glucoamylase from genetically modified Aspergillus niger ( Glucoamylase) and alpha-amylase (Alpha-amylase) are used as processing aids. According to the notification, glucoamylase and alpha-amylase are used in starch processing and the production of drinking alcohol.

9. Australia and New Zealand intends to revise food standards and regulations

According to the Food Standards Agency of Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ),they issued Notice No. 142-20 on November 17, 2020, including application No. A1214 to amend the Food Standards Regulations to allow special medical use (FSMP) Nicotinamide riboside chloride is used as an allowed form of vitamin B3 in food.

10. Australia and New Zealand intends to revise the labeling requirements for allergen labels in food

According to the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) news, on December 15, 2020, they issued Notice No. 145-20, including application No. P1044, to amend the labeling requirements of allergen labels in food.

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Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry. 

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