Here are FSANZ’s media issues for the week 23/02/2017:

Hemp

Following the Federal Government’s approval of the use of medicinal cannabis in Australia, hemp business owners are hoping there will be a positive outcome when ministers consider FSANZ’s proposal on hemp at a meeting of ministers in April. Read more.

Food safety

This editorial article looks at nanotechnology in monitoring of microbial food safety, and how to balance the objective of keeping consumers safe from foodborne illnesses with consumer’s desire for greener and chemical-free approaches.

A cold winter is causing the local wild boars in the Czech Republic to find alternative food sources—including underground truffles contaminated by the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe—making their meat radioactive. Read the story.

Disease and safety experts are warning that superbug bacteria found in people, animals and food is posing an “alarming” threat to public and animal health, following this week’s release of a report by the EU on antimicrobial resistance in bacteria. Read more.

Diet and nutrition

Food experts are urging the ACT government to expand work with retailers and food outlets in limiting availability and sales of unhealthy foods, following the outcomes from a recent national study of government food policy. Read more.

Scientists are saying that bumping the recommendation of five-a-day portions of fruit and veg up to ten a day could prevent up to 7.8 million premature deaths worldwide each year. Read about the study.

Recent Australian study findings suggest that poor diet as a major cause of mental disorders, with a third of study participants with major depressive disorder experiencing a drop in their symptoms to behold the threshold for diagnosis after making improvements to their diets. Read more.

Having trouble sleeping? Then don’t eat bananas before bed time. This article suggests that fixing your diet can help fix your sleep.

A British survey of consumer attitudes towards diet and nutrition says its respondents from Asia were far more likely to be interested in healthy eating than those in the western world, with 26% of Aussies saying they were very interested compared to 82% in India. Read more.

GMO

Medical experts have developed a genetically altered form of salmonella that will attack tumour cells but leave healthy ones alone—which may be a cure for cancer. Read more.

Quirky

Would you try a bowl of dinuguan for lunch, or perhaps some balut for a snack? This article quizzes how big your appetite really is with a few interesting dishes from overseas. Note: probably not a good story for vegetarians.

Food recalls in 2016

Want to know how many food recalls there were last year? Well you’re in luck!
We’ve also got some useful FAQ’s about food complaints and recalls too. Check them both out here.

Keeping your food safe in an emergency
Do you know how to ensure your food is safe during an emergency?
Whether it’s a bush fire, a flood or a storm, check out these easy tips to ensure you and your family don’t get sick when the power’s out. Check out our advice here.

Serving safe sausage sangas
Did you know the Food Standards Code’s food safety requirements apply to charities and community groups who are selling food too?
We’ve produced an easy flow chart to help these groups understand their responsibilities and how to meet them. Check it out here.

Calls for submissions
FSANZ invites written submissions on the draft variation to the Code arising from the following Applications:

Approval and forum notification
FSANZ has approved variations arising from the following Applications and Proposal. FSANZ has notified these approvals to the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation (Forum):

Amendment No. 167
Amendment No. 167 to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code was published by FSANZ on 9 February 2017 (FSC 109). It included amendments resulting from the following Applications:

ATMOsphere Australia will be at Luna Park Sydney on May 2, 2017. The conference will provide a unique opportunity to interact with HVAC&R stakeholders and to exchange opinions with the market’s leading end users. Entry for all end-users is free.

To learn more go to ATMOsphere Australia 2017

The latest Notification Circular (06-17) was published on 20 February 2017.

The Circular summarises work currently being undertaken or finalised by FSANZ including:

  • A1126 – Pectins & Carrageenan as Processing Aids in Wine (Fining Agent) (call for submissions)
  • A1132 – Broaden Definition of Steviol Glycosides (Intense Sweetener)
  • P1043 – Code Revision (2016)

APVMA Gazette No. 2 21st February

Edition No. 4, 21 February 2017 is now available on the APVMA website

CONTENTS
Agricultural Chemical Products and Approved Labels – page 4
Veterinary Chemical Products and Approved Labels – page 9
Approved Active Constituents – page 11
Approved Active Constituents–Section 14 – page 12
Approved Active Constituents—Section 14A – page 13
Licensing of Veterinary Chemical Manufacturers – page 21
Crusader GoDRI Herbicide containing the New Active Constituent Cloquintocet Acid – page 23

You can also access back issues of the Gazette from August 1999.

To create a new subscription to the gazette, please complete the subscription form

Import Industry Advice Notice 24th February 2017

Changes to the Automatic Entry Processing for Commodities (AEPCOMM) Approved Arrangement (AA)

has been published on the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website and can be accessed via the following link: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/industry-advice/2017/16-2017

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