(1) The Authority may, at the discretion of the Authority, conduct a public hearing at any point during the consideration of an application or proposal for the development or variation of a food regulatory measure, other than an application for a high level health claims variation.
(2) If the consideration of an application or proposal includes a public hearing, the Authority, having regard to the confidential nature of any evidence or matter or for any other reason, may direct that any part of the hearing be held in private and determine who may attend.
(3) The Authority may give directions prohibiting or restricting the publication of evidence given in the course of a public hearing or the review or assessment of a draft food regulatory measure or a draft variation of a food regulatory measure, whether in public or in private, or of matters contained in documents produced in the course of a public hearing or the review or assessment of a draft food regulatory measure or a draft variation of a food regulatory measure.
(4) A direction under subsection (3) is not a legislative instrument.