Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is proposing to remove a prohibition on the combination of several substances in infant formula products (IFP) from the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code).
The prohibition relates to the combination in IFP of inulin-type fructans (ITF) and/or galacto-oligosaccharides with lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT).
FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said LNnT is a human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) permitted to be added to IFP at levels similar to those found in human milk.
“Its chemical and biological characteristics are no different to other permitted HMOs,' Dr Cuthbert said.
“FSANZ has concluded there are no public health and safety concerns with the combination of LNnT with ITF or galacto-oligosaccharides.'
Dr Cuthbert said the proposed amendment will provide regulatory clarity and allow greater flexibility in the combinations of oligosaccharides that can be added to IFP.
The proposed change is being considered under Application A1265, which is seeking to amend the Code to permit the voluntary addition of four human identical milk oligosaccharides to IFP.
The removal of the prohibition was not requested as part of the application but has been considered by FSANZ through its assessment process.
If approved, the current infant formula permissions in the Code will be expanded, allowing the substances to be used in combination up to maximum permitted amounts.
Submissions on the proposed change can be made as part of the A1265 call for submission process. The period for comment closes at 6pm (Canberra time) 7 July 2023.
What happens to my feedback?
We will publish all submissions to our website as soon as possible at the end of the public comment period.
All feedback will be considered by FSANZ before making a decision on whether to approve the application/proposal.
Our decision will be notified to ministers responsible for food regulation who can ask for a review or agree to include the amendment in the Code.
More information:
Media contact:
- 0401 714 265 (Australia)
- +61 401 714 265 (from New Zealand)
- media@foodstandards.gov.au