STRICT caffeine restrictions have stopped the importation of a soft drink made by the manufacturer of Dr Pepper, despite the creaming soda-flavoured beverage being freely available in the US.
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In March, more than 600 cans of A&W Cream Soda with aged vanilla were destroyed after a customs official saw the drink contained caffeine.
A spokesman from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said caffeine was only permitted as an additive in cola-type drinks such as Coke or Pepsi or in formulated caffeinated energy drinks such as Red Bull.
''It is not permitted in regular soft drinks like Fanta or creaming soda,'' he said. ''However, we believe caffeine is permitted in a wider range of products in the US.''
The requirements for addition of caffeine to foods are regulated by the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
''DAFF assess the labels and composition against the code but does not set the standards. This code applies to all food sold in Australia whether domestic or imported,'' the spokesman said.
Customs rejected 110 shipments of food up to March 30 for failing to meet chemical and bacterial standards - up from 90 for the same period the previous year.
Produce from Vietnam and Italy has been rejected 10 times in the first three months of this year, while China had five products banned.
French cheeses were found to be not up to standard on six occasions and one shipments of cooked prawns from Malaysia was blocked because of the presence of cholera bacteria.
