Forum supports front-of-pack labelling system

Ministers responsible for the regulation of food in Australia and New Zealand met in Canberra recently to consider the progress of issues such as a revised health claims standard and front-of-pack labelling.

The group - known as the Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation - noted that good progress has been made on developing a front-of-pack labelling system for packaged, manufactured or processed foods. The forum identified front-of-pack labelling as a key priority following a 2011 food labelling review.

The front-of-pack labelling project “aims to help consumers to make more informed food choices, while fostering a strong and innovative food industry through the development of one front-of-pack system that will be widespread, simple and interpretive”, the forum stated.

Discussing the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) progress report on P293 Nutrition, Health and Related Claims Standard, the ministers agreed on the importance of a joint Australian-New Zealand Standard. The group supported elements of the proposed standard relating to the treatment of nutrition content claims, high-level health claims and nutrient profiling scoring criteria applying to general level health claims. Following consultation with consumers, public health organisations and industry, the ministers will further consider the treatment of general level health claims in the Standard.

The forum also agreed to a standard on raw milk products and foods for special medical purposes. The forum has sought a review on the proposed extension of the standard on country-of-origin labelling to include all unpackaged meat products.