Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) called for submissions on an application to permit a novel production method for a mixture of already permitted sweeteners, rebaudiosides M and D (Reb MD), in the Food Standards Code.

FSANZ CEO Mark Booth said the rebaudiosides are steviol glycosides, sweeteners extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant.

“The applicant is seeking approval to include a new specification for Reb MD produced from microbial fermentation, rather than from the plant,” Mr Booth said.

“FSANZ’s risk assessment found no health and safety concerns with this new production method.”

All FSANZ decisions on applications are notified to ministers responsible for food regulation who can decide to ask for a review or agree that the standard should become law.

The closing date for submissions is 10 May 2019 at 6pm (Canberra time).

Source: FSANZ