New version of Food Standards Code approved

The 01 March 2016 will mark the cessation of the current Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. It will be immediately replaced with the new version which was released this week.

Once it has been given the final approval by the next meeting of the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation, and then gazetted it will be effective when the current version ceases.

There are some significant improvements in the new version, although generally it is not a major change and this is why there is no phasing in period . Chapters One and Two of the current version will now be individual legislative instruments. Chapters Three and Four will remain as is, although a dictionary will be added to assist people understand the various terms used within them.

There are still reviews underway on various sections of the Code by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), so it is expected that between now and the commencement of the new Code, there will be at least four presentations and approvals by the FSANZ Board.

The Code has been reviewed and adjusted primarily to ensure that there is consistency in interpretation for enforcement in the states and territories and to make legal definitions easier to understand.

FSANZ put out a request for submissions for changes to the Code in July and these have all been reviewed. The changes made to the Code have come from these submissions, as well from discussion with, and research by the jurisdictions.

Written by Rachelle Williams, The Green Food Safety Coach.