. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/AUS/56 
31 July 2007 
 (07-3244) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
 
  
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circulat ed in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   AUSTRALIA
 
If applicable, name of local governme nt 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 applic able, 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. 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Initial/Draft 
Assessment Report for Proposal P305 – Exclusivity of Novel Foods (17 pages, in English). 
6. Description of content:   The purpose of the Proposal is to consider amending Standard 1.5.1 
of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) to include the capacity for 
exclusive permissions for novel foods.  Exclusive permissions for novel foods would be 
specific to a brand within a class of food and be limited to a period of 15 months, after which 
the exclusive permission would revert to a generic permission that is not brand specific. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:   
There is no international standard for regulating novel foods.  The proposed amendment to 
Standard 1.5.1 is to permit exclusive permissions for novel foods, on a brand specific basis.  
Exclusive permissions will be limited to a peri od of 15 months, after which the novel food 
permission is no longer brand specific. 
All proposals  to change the Australia New Zealand Food Standards 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 relatin g to food to enable consumers to make 
informed choices; and (c) the prevention of misleading or deceptive conduct. G/TBT/N/AUS/56 
Page 2  
 
  8. Relevant documents:   Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (English) 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
 
 
Proposed date of entry into force:    Notification to Government anticipated 
October 2007 with a doption (gazettal) to 
follow, pending Government consideration. 
Date of Gazettal 
10. Final date for comments:   31 August 2007 
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 available from the Food St andards Australia New Zealand website: 
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/standardsdevelopment/documentsforpublicco868.cfm.