. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/AUS/53 
2 October 2006 
 (06-4682) 
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 
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:    
PO Box 7186 
Canberra BC  ACT  2610 AUSTRALIA Fax: (+61) 2 62712278    Email  slo@foodstandards.gov.au 
 
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 produ ced) foods sold in Australia. 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Draft Assessment for 
Proposal P276 – Review of Processing Ai ds (enzymes) (76 pa ges, in English). 
6. Description of content:   FSANZ is reviewing enzyme processing aids approved for use in 
food. Matters being considered as part of this review include:  
• safety of currently approved enzymes and by-products of enzymatic 
reactions and the guidelines for the safety assessment of enzymes; 
• nomenclature used for enzymes and source organisms; 
• enzymes not currently used in Australia and New Zealand; and 
• other issues raised by submitters following the first round of public 
consultation  
This review is not a mechanism for the a pproval of new enzymes in Australia and New 
Zealand. New enzymes will n eed to go through the no rmal application process. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:   
The specific objective of the proposal is to co mprehensively review all enzymes currently 
permitted for use in food as processing aids. G/TBT/N/AUS/53 
Page 2  
 
  There are no relevant international st andards for enzymes and amending the Australia New 
Zealand Food Standards Code  (the Code) to primarily update the enzyme names is unlikely 
to have a significant effect on international trade.  However, FSANZ has identified four 
enzymes (i.e. bromelain EC 3.4.22.4, carboxyl  proteinase EC 3.4.23.6, metalloproteinase 
EC 3.4.24.4, and serine proteinase EC 3.4.21.14) that are no longer considered current by 
the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.  
FSANZ is seeking comment on the appropriate  replacement enzymes and their sources. 
FSANZ is also seeking information on possible trade implications on proposed amendments 
to the Code.  In addition, information about  international usage of enzymes is sought. 
All proposals  to change the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code , must be assessed 
in the context of the following objectives:  (a) th e protection of public health and safety; (b) 
the provision of adequate information relati ng to food to enable consumers to make 
informed choices; and (c) the preventio n of misleading or deceptive conduct. 
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 June 
2007 with adoption (gazettal) to follow, 
pending Government consideration. 
Date of Gazettal pending Government 
consideration. 
10. Final date for comments:   29 November 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 available from the Food St andards Australia New Zealand website: 
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/standardsdev elopment/documentsforpublicco868.cfm