G/SPS/N/NZL/512
7 January 2015 
(15-0061)  Page: 1/2
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English
 
  NOTIFICATION 
1. Notifying Member: NEW ZEALAND 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible: Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Raw apricot kernels either unhulled (with skin) or hulled 
(without skin).  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document: Proposal P1016 Hydrocyanic acid in Apricot Kernels 
and Other Foods  Language(s): English  Number of pages: 20 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2014/sps/NZL/14_5590_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: This Proposal seeks to amend the Australia New Zealand Food 
Standards Code for hydrocyanic acid in raw apricot kernels. In order to manage the 
potential risks of consumption of raw apricot kernels, FSANZ has prepared a draft food 
regulatory measure to prohibit the sale of raw apricot kernels both unhulled (with skin) and hulled (without skin). This prohibition would also apply to any substance derived 
from raw apricot kernels (ground, milled, cracked, chopped) with an exemption for 
apricots containing raw apricot kernels, alcoho lic beverages, oil, flavourings, stone fruit 
juices, marzipan, cakes, biscuits and confectionery.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text)   
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[X] None Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
[ ] Yes   [ ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   G/SPS/N/NZL/512 
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available: 
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (available in English). 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : FSANZ Board approval anticipated 
mid-May 2015.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : Notification to Government anticipated 
early June 2015 with gazettal and registration of legislative instrument to follow, in 
mid-August 2015, pending Government consideration. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : Date of Gazettal and registration of legislative instrument 
pending Government consideration (see 10. above). 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 20 February 2015 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
Food Standards Australia New Zealand 
PO Box 7186 Canberra BC ACT 2610 
Australia 
E-mail: standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au 
Assessment summary available (in English) from FSANZ's website at http://www.foodsta
ndards.gov.au/code/proposals/Pages/proposalp1016hydrocy5438.aspx  
13. Text(s) available from: [X] National Notifi cation Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Documents are available from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website: 
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/code/pr oposals/Pages/proposalp1016hydrocy5438.as
px 
Mrs Sally Jennings, Coordinator, SPS New Zealand, PO Box 2526, Wellington, 
New Zealand; Tel: +(64 4) 894 0431; Fax: +(64 4) 894 0733; E-mail: sps@mpi.govt.nz ; Website: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/ sps/transparency/notificatio
ns/index.htm