Comment invited on infant food age-labelling requirements

Submissions are invited on a proposal to amend minimum age-labelling requirements for infant foods. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on the proposal, which seeks to change labelling requirements from “four months” to “around six months”.

The proposed change would align the Food Standards Code with National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and New Zealand infant feeding guidelines.

“A shortened form of the current warning statement ‘not before four months’ will continue to reflect the recommendation that solid foods should not be introduced before four months of age,” said FSANZ CEO Steve McCutcheon.

“This change will ensure consumers are provided with consistent advice.”

A three-year transition period would be put in place to give food manufacturers time to introduce the labelling changes.

The period for comment closes on 12 November 2013. More information on Proposal P274 - Review of minimum age labelling of foods for infants is available here.

This information is reproduced with the kind permission of Food Standards Australia New Zealand.