Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has called for submissions on an application seeking to adopt World Health Organization (WHO) limits for chemicals in packaged water in the Food Standards Code.

FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said the Application, made by the Australasian Bottled Water Institute, sought to adopt limits set by WHO in its Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality.

Mr McCutcheon said adopting the WHO limits would increase the number of chemicals with limits and would bring the requirements for packaged water in Australia and New Zealand into line with international standards.

“FSANZ is recommending adopting the WHO limits, with two exceptions. We are recommending maintaining the current lower limit for fluoride in packaged water and a marginally higher limit for styrene, which is used as a processing aid in packaged water.

“FSANZ has taken into account safety assessments conducted by expert advisors to WHO and FSANZ’s own assessments conducted for fluoride and styrene.

“We welcome comments from government agencies, public health professionals, industry and the community on this report,” Mr McCutcheon said.

The closing date for submissions is 13 September 2012

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