. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/NZL/370 
30 May 2007  
 (07-2224) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
NOTIFICATION  
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  NEW ZEALAND   
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable):  Processed foods  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable :  All 
Countries.  Imported (as well as domestica lly produced) foods sold in New Zealand 
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   Draft Assessment for 
Application A540 – Steviol Glycosides as In tense Sweeteners (ava ilable in English) 
6. Description of content:  FSANZ has received an Application to amend Standard 1.3.1 – 
Food Additives in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to approve the use of 
steviol glycosides as intense sweeteners and flavour enhancer in a range of foods.  
7. Objective and rationale:  [ X ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or  disease,  [ ] protec t territory from other 
damage from pests 
New food additives are required to undergo a pre- market assessment of their safety, to ensure 
they are safe for use in foods for human consumption. 
All Applications to change the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code , must be 
assessed in the context of the following objectiv es:  (a) the protection of public health and 
safety; (b) the provision of adequate informati on relating to food to enable consumers to 
make informed choices; an d (c) the prevention of misl eading or deceptive conduct. 
 
8. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[ X ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [ ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [ ] International Plant Protection Convention, [ ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:   Codex General Standard for Food Additives 
(Codex Stan 192-1995, Rev. 7-2006). Steviol glyc osides not currently included in this Codex 
standard. 
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Australia New 
Zealand Food Standards Code  (available in English) 
10. Proposed date of adoption:   Notification to Government  anticipated December 2007 with 
adoption (gazettal) to follow, pe nding Government consideration. G/SPS/N/NZL/370 
Page 2  
 
  11. Proposed date of entry into force:   Date of Gazettal pending Government consideration. 
12. Final date for comments:  27 July 2007 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [ X ] National notification 
authority, [ ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Food Standards Aust ralia New Zealand 
PO Box 10559 Wellington 6036 New Zealand Fax: + 64 4 473 9855 E-mail:  slo@foodstandards.govt.nz  
 
13. Texts available from:  [ X ] National notification authority, [ ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Documents are available from the Food Stan dards Australia New Zealand website: 
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/standardsd evelopment/documentsforpublicco868.cfm  
Copies are also available from: 
The NZ SPS Notification Point 
PO Box 2526 Wellington New Zealand Fax:  +64 4 4744219 
E-mail:  sps@maf.govt.nz