Food Act Report 2009/2010 - SA Health - SA.Gov.au

Trans Fatty Acids in the Australia and New Zealand Food SupplyIn October 2009, the Ministerial Council considered the review report Trans Fatty Acids in the Australia andNew Zealand food supply compiled by FSANZ. This report showed that the intake of trans fatty acids is decreasingin both countries. The Ministerial Council endorsed the recommendation to retain current non-regulatory approachesand welcomed the work of industry to reduce trans fatty acids in food by 25 – 40%.The review report is available on the Food Regulation Secretariat website: www.foodsecretariat.health.gov.auThe Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC) is responsible for coordinating policy advice tothe Ministerial Council and ensuring a nationally consistent approach to the implementation and enforcement offood standards. It also advises the Ministerial Council on the initiation, review and development of StandingCommittee activities.Membership of FRSC reflects the membership of the Ministerial Council and comprises the heads of departments forwhich the Ministers represented on the council have portfolio responsibility, as well as the President of the AustralianLocal Government Association and FSANZ as observers. The Director of Public Health represents SA Health at FRSC.FRSC Working GroupsThe Standing Committee has a number of working groups and this financial year SA Health was represented at thefollowing groups:FRSC Review of Ministerial Policy Guideline on Food Safety ManagementThe FRSC Food Safety Management Working Group has been established to review the 2003 Ministerial PolicyGuidelines on Food Safety Management in Australia: Food Safety Programs. The Working Group will undertake publicconsultation as part of this review before it reports back to the Ministerial Council in December 2010. FSANZ proposalP290 – Food Safety Programs for Catering Operations to the General Public has been placed on hold pending thefindings of this review.FRSC Working Group for the Development of Policy Guidance for the Regulation of Infant Formula ProductsThis working group was given the task of preparing a draft policy guideline on the regulation of Infant FormulaProducts. Infant formula is regulated by Standard 2.9.1 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code)which addresses composition, labelling and packaging.The intention behind the development of the draft guidelines is not to erode the promotion of breast feeding whichis recognised as paramount in both Australia and New Zealand. Rather, it is intended to contribute to the provision ofsafe and adequate nutrition for infants by ensuring that breast milk substitutes are appropriately regulated. This policyguideline will also inform any future review of Standard 2.9.1 of the Code.The working group developed a consultation paper which was released for comment between June and September2009. The submissions from the consultation have been used to inform the development of a final draft policyguideline for the regulation of infant formula products during 2009/2010. It is intended that this guideline will beconsidered by Ministers in early 2011.A copy of the consultation paper and other information related to the development of the Policy Guidelinefor the Regulation of Infant Formula Products can be found on the Food Regulation Secretariat website:www.foodsecretariat.health.gov.auFRSC Working Group for the Development of Policy Guidance on the Intent of Part 2.9 of the Code– Special Purpose FoodsThis working group was given the task of preparing a draft policy guideline on the Intent of Part 2.9 – Special PurposeFoods, of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code). Special purpose foods are defined as thosewhich are specially processed or formulated to satisfy particular dietary requirements that exist because of a particularphysical or physiological condition and/or specific diseases and disorders.The intention of this policy guidance is to provide guidance to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) toassist in a review of Part 2.9 of the Code. The Policy Guideline will also assist FSANZ in the consideration of any futuredevelopment or review of food standards in Part 2.9 of the Code.The policy guideline was endorsed by the Ministerial Council in October 2009 and is now published on the FoodRegulation Secretariat website: www.foodsecretariat.health.gov.aupage 5Food Act Report Year ending 30 June 2010