. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/AUS/47 
30 August 2006 
 (06-4115) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   AUSTRALIA
 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:    
Food Standards Australia New Zealand 
PO Box 7186 Canberra BC  ACT  2610 
AUSTRALIA 
 Fax:  (+61) 2 62712278 Email :  slo@foodstandards.gov.au 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be  indicated if different from above:         
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:         
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable):   All Countries.  Imported 
(as well as domestically produced) foods sold in Australia, specifically bread, breakfast 
cereals and biscuits. 
5. Title, number of pages and langua ge(s) of the notified document:   Draft Assessment 
Report for Proposal P230 – Consideration of  Mandatory Fortification with Iodine.
(320 pages, in English) 
6. Description of content:   FSANZ has prepared this Proposal to consider mandatory 
fortification of the food supply with iodine, s eeking the development of regulatory measures 
that will require the mandatory replacement of  non-iodised salt with iodised salt in breads, 
breakfast cereals and biscuits .  The Draft Assessment Repor t discusses issues surrounding 
mandatory fortification and propos es a preferred regulatory opti on to mandate fortification. G/TBT/N/AUS/47 
Page 2  
 
   
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:   In 
parts of Australia, there is a re-emergence of mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency resulting 
from inadequate iodine intakes.  A diet deficien t in iodine is associated with a wide range of 
adverse impacts on health.   
This Proposal seeks to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) to 
require the mandatory replacement of non-iodised  salt with iodised salt in breads, breakfast 
cereals and biscuits.  This initiative will c ontribute considerably to alleviating the 
consequences of existing deficiency, and prev ent it from becoming even more widespread 
and serious in the future. 
A number of countries have legislation allo wing, and in some cases mandating, the 
iodisation of salt and/or use of iodised salt in food products, these include the United States, 
Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany. 
Bread, breakfast cereal and biscuits imported into  Australia would be expected to comply 
with this proposed regulatory measure for mandatory fortification. 
All Proposals to change the Code must be  assessed in the context of the following 
objectives:  (a) the protection of public health and safety; (b) the provision of adequate information relating to food to enable consum ers to make informed choices; and (c) the 
prevention of misleading or deceptive conduct. 
8. Relevant documents:   Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code  (English) 
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Notification to Government anticipated October 2006 with 
adoption (gazettal) to follow, pending Government consideration.  
Proposed date of entry into force:  Twelve months after gazettal, pending Government 
consideration. 
10. Final date for comments:   18 September 2006 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:   
Documents are av ailable from the Food Standards Au stralia New Zeal and website:  
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/standardsdev elopment/documentsforpublicco868.cfm