Australia and New Zealand consider use of Steviol glycosides in food for special medical purposes 

According to the official website of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand, an application seeking to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to permit s​teviol glycosides to be used as a food additive (intense sweetener) in food for special medical purposes (FSMPs) has been accepted.

The application seeks permission to use stevia in foods for special medical purposes up to a maximum level of 330 mg/kg, in all FSMP products excluding FSMP products for infants under 12 months.

Although the authorities have announced that there will be an opportunity for public comment soon, the anticipated gazettal, assuming no review is requested, is scheduled for late May 2024 based on the proposed timeframe for assessment.

The use of stevia in FSMPs is already permitted under Codex Alimentarius and is expressly permitted in some other jurisdictions, including the European Union, Canada, the United States, Turkey, Singapore and Japan.

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