Labelling requirements in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) are designed to protect public health and safety, help consumers make informed choices, and prevent misleading and deceptive conduct.
Chapter 1 of the Code includes general labelling standards that apply to all foods, with specific requirements depending on the context, such as food for retail sale or catering. Chapter 2 includes additional labelling and information requirements that are specific to certain foods. More information is available here - Labelling | Food Standards Australia New Zealand.
“While we set the standards in the Code, we do not enforce them. This is the responsibility of the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Australian state and territory food regulatory agencies, and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry at the Australian border, under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme,” said a FSANZ spokesperson.
Cathy McArdle B.Tech (Food Tech), NZCS (Chem), Food Labelling Consultant and Managing Director of McFoodies Ltd, said that startups and small businesses often do not realise there are strict rules in Australia and New Zealand about what ingredients can be added to food and drinks, and that these are often different to other countries.
There are also particular and detailed rules about the format for compliance content, such as nutrition information panels, ingredient listings, allergen statements, net quantity statements or country of origin declarations.
“We have some complicated rules to navigate when determining which standard applies if wanting to include a specific ingredient, or if making a claim, or even if using a particular product name. It's easy to get it wrong and have the expense of fixing it later,” said McArdle.
“When preparing ingredient listings, make sure you look for all hidden ingredients that need to be declared. Saying that, you can ignore processing aids (like oil used on raisins to prevent sticking in production) as long as they are not allergens and include the percentage after any ingredients highlighted in graphics or words on the pack.”
Read more in the latest issue here
