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| Hemp as a food ingredient under review by FSANZ |
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The following is included with permission from Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Changes involving the irradiation of persimmons and the use of low THC hemp for food are being considered by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). FSANZ has announced a period of public comment on two requests for changes to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code– the regulations governing the sale of food sold in Australia and New Zealand. Chief Executive Officer, Steve McCutcheon, said FSANZ’s responsibility was to ensure that irradiated persimmons and the use of hemp in food should be safe for consumers. “FSANZ welcomes comments from government agencies, public health professionals, industry and the community on issues raised in a consultation paper for the hemp application and on an assessment report on persimmon irradiation,” Mr McCutcheon said. Further details on the consultation paper and assessment report can be found below. Submissions should reach FSANZ by 27 April 2011. Irradiation of persimmons (Application A1038 – Assessment) Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries has applied to FSANZ for permission to irradiate persimmons as a phytosanitary measure – i.e. as an effective treatment for fruit fly for quarantine purposes. FSANZ has concluded that approval of irradiation of persimmons at a minimum dose of 150 gray (Gy) and a maximum of 1 kilogray (kGy) does not pose a significant human health risk for Australian or New Zealand consumers. We welcome your comments. Low THC hemp as a food (Application A1039 – Consultation) Dr Andrew Katelaris is seeking to amend the Food Standards Code to permit the use of products from Cannabis sativa, with low levels of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), as food. Hemp is a variety of Cannabis sativa that contains very low levels of THC. Hemp is not considered to have any psychoactive properties. We have concluded that the consumption of hemp foods does not pose a public health and safety risk. However, FSANZ is also seeking comment on the other matters that we must consider, for example, information on costs and benefits. Comments are invited on this consultation paper. Submissions: Details of the assessment report and consultation paper can be found on www.foodstandards.gov.au . Submissions close on 27 April 2011 . Media contact: Lydia Buchtmann or Lorraine Belanger 0401 714 265 (Australia) or |
