Call for submissions on review of carbohydrate and sugar claims on alcoholic beverages

Published

Date: 24/07/2023

​​Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for commen​t on a proposal to clarify the requirements for making nutrition content claims about carbohydrate and sugar on alcoholic beverages. 

Standard 1.2.7 in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) currently permits voluntary claims about carbohydrate content to be made on alcoholic beverages.  

Sugar is a component of carbohydrate, however the Code lacks clarity around sugar content claims. 

FSANZ is proposing to amend the standard to clarify the permitted extent of carbohydrate and sugar claims on food containing more than 1.15% alcohol by volume. 

The proposed amendment is intended to support consumers to make informed choices and provide clarity and certainty for enforcement agencies and industry. 

FSANZ’s assessment has considered the best available evidence, stakeholder input, relevant Ministerial Policy Guidelines and an analysis of the costs and benefits of the proposed changes. 

The call for submissions​ provides a summary of FSANZ's assessment and includes draft amendments to the Code. Interested parties are invited to comment on the proposed amendments. Submissions close at 6pm (Canberra time) 4 September 2023. 

FSANZ is separately considering a proposal to require energy content information on the label of alcoholic beverages under Proposal P1059.  ​

What happens to my feedback?

We will publish all submissions to our website as soon as possible at the end of the public comment period. 

All feedback will be considered by FSANZ before making a decision on whether to approve the proposal. 

Our decision will be notified to ministers responsible for food regulation who can ask for a review or agree to include the amendment in the Food Standards Code.​

More information​

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