In 2009, Australian and New Zealand food regulation ministers agreed to a comprehensive independent review of food labelling law and policy.
An expert panel, chaired by Dr Neal Blewett, AC, undertook the review and the panel's final report, Labelling Logic, was publicly released on 28 January 2011.
In December 2011, the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation (the Forum) agreed on a response to the recommendations contained in the review.
As part of this government response, FSANZ was asked to do work on a number of the recommendations. Our work on these recommendations is now complete.
Completed work
Number |
Recommendation |
FSANZ's work |
|
6 |
That the food safety elements of the food label be reviewed with the aim to maximise the effectiveness of food safety communication. |
Read FSANZ's report to the Forum and the supporting literature. |
|
12 |
That where sugars, fats or vegetable oils are added as separate ingredients in a food, the terms 'added sugars' and 'added fats' and/or 'added vegetable oils' be used in the ingredient list as the generic term, followed by a bracketed list (e.g. added sugars (fructose, glucose syrup, honey), added fats (palm oil, milk fat) or added vegetable oils (sunflower oil, palm oil). |
|
|
13 |
That the mandatory declaration of all trans fatty acids above an agreed threshold be introduced into the Nutrition Information Panel if manufactured trans fatty acids have not been phased out of the food supply by January 2013. |
|
|
14 |
That the declaration of total and naturally occurring dietary fibre content be considered as a mandatory requirement in the Nutrition Information Panel. |
|
|
15 |
That voluntary declaration of potassium content in the Nutrition Information Panel be actively considered by industry. |
|
|
17 |
The declaration in the Nutrition Information Panel of amount of nutrients per serve be no longer mandatory unless a daily intake claim is made. |
Read more about FSANZ's work on this recommendation. |
|
20 |
That the standard for nutrition, health and related claims on food labels, which reflects public health goals, be finalised. |
|
|
26 |
That the energy content be displayed on the labels of all alcoholic beverages consistent with the requirements for other food products. |
Read more about FSANZ's work on this recommendation. |
|
34 |
That the requirement for mandatory labelling of irradiated food be reviewed. |
|
|
40 |
That Australia's existing mandatory country of origin labelling requirements for food be maintained and be extended to cover all primary food products for retail sale. |
Read more about FSANZ's work on this recommendation. |
|
43 |
The Perceptible Information Principle be used as a guide for labelling presentation to maximise label comprehension among a wide range of consumers. |
Read FSANZ's report to the Forum and the supporting literature review. |
|
47 |
That warning and advisory statements be emboldened and allergens emboldened both in the ingredients list and in a separate list. |
Read FSANZ's report to the Forum and the ministers' response. |