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Labelling

Labelling FSANZ sets food labelling standards in the Food Standards Code. These standards are enforced by the Australian states and territories and, in New Zealand, by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). The Food Standards Code includes the general labelling and information requirements (Chapter 1 of the Code) that are relevant to all foods, and sets out which requirements apply in different situations (for example food for retail sale, food for catering purposes, or an intra-company transfer). The code also includes specific labelling and information requirements that apply to certain food products only (Chapter 2 of the Code). In addition to the Food Standards Code, all representations made about food are subject to fair trading laws and food laws in Australia and New Zealand which…

Published December 2023

EU claims - Meal replacements and body weight

EU claims - Meal replacements and body weight FSANZ is considering 32 health claims authorised in the European Union (EU) for possible inclusion as food-health relationships in Standard 1.2.7 - Nutrition, Health and Related Claims. The EU has authorised the following two health claims about weight control:

• Meal replacement for weight control: Substituting one daily meal of an energy restricted diet with a meal replacement contributes to…

  Published December 2023

European Union 'reduction of risk' claims

European Union 'reduction of risk' claims FSANZ has considered seven 'reduction of disease risk' health claims authorised in the European Union (EU) for possible inclusion as food-health relationships in Standard 1.2.7 - Nutrition, health and related claims. The first statement of each of the EU-authorised 'reduction of disease risk' claims is currently included in Standard 1.2.7 either as pre-approved general level or high level health claims. The seven EU-authorised claims are: 1.Oat β-glucan has been shown to lower/reduce blood cholesterol. High cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease. 2.Phytosterols/phytostanols and their esters have been shown to lower/reduce blood cholesterol. High cholesterol is a risk factor in the…

Published December 2023

European Union 'reduction of risk' claims

European Union 'reduction of risk' claims (August 2016) FSANZ has considered seven 'reduction of disease risk' health claims authorised in the European Union (EU) for possible inclusion as food-health relationships in Standard 1.2.7 - Nutrition, health and related claims. The first statement of each of the EU-authorised 'reduction of disease risk' claims is currently included in Standard 1.2.7 either as pre-approved general level or high level health claims. The seven EU-authorised claims are: 1.Oat β-glucan has been shown to lower/reduce blood cholesterol. High cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease. 2.Phytosterols/phytostanols and their esters have been shown to lower/reduce blood cholesterol. High cholesterol is a risk…

Published December 2023

Fruit and Vegetable points (V points)

Fruit and Vegetable points (V points) The rules and methods for calculating fruit and vegetable points (V points) are provided in Schedule 5 of the Food Standards Code. What can count towards V Points?

• Foods which are fvnl in Schedule 5, that is, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes (including coconut, spices, herbs, fungi, seeds, and algae) including these foods when: fresh, cooked, frozen, canned, pickled or preserved; and when peeled, diced or cut (or otherwise reduced in size), pureed or dried.
• Fruit juice or vegetable juice (as standardised in Standard 2.6.1 - Fruit Juice and Vegetable Juice), including concentrated juices and purees.
• Coconut flesh (which is to be scored as a nut), whether juiced, dried or desiccated, but not processed…

  Published December 2023

Potassium and blood pressure

Potassium and blood pressure (October 2015) FSANZ is considering 32 health claims authorised in the European Union (EU) for possible inclusion as food-health relationships in Standard 1.2.7 - Nutrition, Health and Related Claims. The EU has authorised the following health claim about potassium and blood pressure:

• Potassium contributes to the maintenance of normal blood pressure

Published December 2023

Pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages

Pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages Requirements for pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages were gazetted in the Code on 31 July, 2020 with a three-year transition period ending on 31 July 2023. In addition, optional alternative requirements for pregnancy warning labels for corrugated cardboard outer packaging were gazetted in the Code on 4 May 2023.   Businesses have until 1 February 2024 to ensure post-printed corrugated carboard outer packaging, containing more than one individual unit of an alcoholic beverage, displays either the existing or optional alternative pregnancy warning label. Alcoholic beverages in such corrugated carboard outer packaging that is labelled before the end of the transition period (i.e. before 2 February 2024) may be sold without the…

Published February 2024

Systematic review of the evidence for a relationship between resistant starch and peak postprandial blood glucose concentration

Systematic review of the evidence for a relationship between resistant starch and peak postprandial blood glucose concentration Last update: December 2022 FSANZ has considered a European Union (EU) authorised health claim about replacing digestible starch with resistant starch in a food and its effect on peak postprandial blood glucose concentration, for possible inclusion as a food-health relationship in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code). The EU-authorised health claim is: 

Replacing digestible starches with resistant starch in a meal contributes to a reduction in the blood glucose rise after that meal 

Published December 2023

Short guide for industry to the NPSC

Short guide for industry to the NPSC The Nutrient Profiling Scoring Criterion (NPSC) was developed by FSANZ for the regulation of health claims about foods in Australia and New Zealand under Proposal P293 - Nutrition, Health and Related Claims and the resulting Standard 1.2.7 - Nutrition, Health and Related Claims. Information on the development of Standard 1.2.7 and the NPSC can be found in the Proposal P293 reports. The code regulates food only. The code does not regulate other products, such as therapeutic goods and dietary supplements and therefore, does not regulate claims made about these types of products.…

Published December 2023

History of Novel Foods Standard

History of Novel Foods Standard In 1996, the then Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) released a discussion and options paper entitled 'The safety assessment of novel foods and novel food ingredients'. It was felt necessary at that time because the number, variety and increasing use of non-traditional foods raised questions about public health and safety. ANZFA received stakeholder support to develop a Standard to formally regulate novel foods for the first time. ANZFA started Proposal P168 - Novel Foods, to formally consider the need to regulate such foods in Australia and New Zealand. The authority recommended that novel foods be considered a sub-set of non-traditional foods and proposed definitions. It stipulated that no novel foods could be sold until first listed in that Standard. To do this,…

Published December 2023