As you may already be aware, FSANZ are proposing to change the laws relating to raw milk and are asking for submissions from the general public with a deadline of 17th September.

DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL CAN BE FOUND HERE:

THE CURRENT STATUS OF RAW MILK LEGISLATION CAN BE FOUND HERE:

Below are the details/requirements of voicing your vote to FSANZ. Please note that if you only follow the below guidelines and write a brief, 1 paragraph letter (ie I am in favour of safely produced, natural raw milk), that is enough to make a difference for the Real Milk Campaign. THIS SHOULD ONLY TAKE YOU A FEW MINUTES::)

Details: Submissions must be made in writing and should clearly be marked with the word ‘Submission’:

Send to: submissions@foodstandards.gov.au or hard copies to the Standards Management Officer at PO Box 7186, Canberra BC, ACT 2610.

Quote project number: Proposal P1007: Primary Production & Processing Requirements for Raw Milk Products.

Please include: full contact details including: position, address, telephone number, fax and email address. And in the case whereby you are submitting on behalf of an organisation, you need to advise the level at which the submission was authorized.

Submissions may simply state your views and opinions, or take the form of detailed scientific or technical documents that discuss or support your position in relation to the application or proposal. If you only have a few minutes, a 1 paragraph letter or email is fine.

If you have more time, the submission can address the objectives and the issues and questions that have been raised and provide, where possible, supporting information and facts. To do this you need to read the relevant assessment report carefully. You may provide comment and/or answer the questions raised in the paper. In all cases, your submission will be more effective if you provide supporting evidence of your views.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Relating to current legislation in Australia (and more details on FSANZ), please check out our links, or contact the Information Officer on (02) 6271 2241 or email work.info@foodstandards.gov.au. You can also nominate to be placed on the FSANZ interested parties register. People on the register will receive information about the progress of the raw milk products

NOURISHED PROJECT:

If you wish to contribute to a joint project or get further ideas for your own submission, the Nourished Community are undertaking a group blogging project.  Click here to join.

The concept of Herdshares is developing far and wide across Australia; with varying success in each state depending on local laws and State regulations.

If you live in Brisbane or along the Gold Coast, you may be able to join a Herdshare through ‘Food Connect’.

Call Bridget at Food connect on: 07 3216 7777

Just another interesting comment on the power of organic farming, one of the fundamental aspects of Real Milk.

 Click this link to go to the recent article in The Australian.

 http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22663721-5013404,00.html

Applications to allow the use of raw milk in commercial cheese production are being considered by the federal food standards regulator, FSANZ. According to a spokesman, a full safety assessment and survey is under way but final announcements are not due until next year. Should the rules be relaxed to allow the use of unpasteurised milk, it’s likely a whole new set of testing procedures will join the bewildering number of food safety checks and balances already in place.

A few weeks ago Good Living editor Sue Bennett and I were treated to an interesting comparative cheese tasting. Before us were two sets of cheeses, made from the same batch of milk. For one set, the milk was
pasteurised and, for the other, it was left raw. After four weeks’ maturation, the difference was palpable. Both were delicious, but the raw-milk version had a depth of flavour, texture and complexity quite unlike its pasteurised counterpart. Legally, this cheese could not have been sold.

Full artical at:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/good-living/whey-to-go/2007/07/30/1185647795723.html

Article from: Sunday Herald Sun, June 17, 2007 by Adrian Tame

VICTORIANS are unknowingly drinking milk from cows fed on genetically modified products.