New Food Standards Code to Take Effect in Two Years

The Australia New Zealand Food Authority today announced that the joint Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code has become law following its gazettal in Australia and New Zealand.

The joint Code will become the sole food standard for Australia and New Zealand after an anticipated two year transition period.

This official announcement of the joint Code's commencement follows last month's meeting of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council, where Health Ministers from Australia and New Zealand decided it should be adopted.

ANZFA's Managing Director, Ian Lindenmayer, said Australian and New Zealand consumers and industry had much to gain from the joint Code.

"The gazettal of the joint Code marks the beginning of a new era in food standards setting in both countries.

"Consumers will have more information to make more informed choices about the nutritional value and content of foods, and the food industry now has a more workable set of standards which encourage innovation while ensuring that food is safe.

"The new Code also dispenses with a lot of the red tape in the previous standards which imposed unjustified costs on industry without providing any benefits to consumer," he said.

Mr Lindenmayer said that the Code's new labelling provisions were its most visible feature.

"Nutrition labelling, percentage labelling and allergen warning label requirements will allow consumers to make more informed decisions about the key nutrient content of foods. This labelling will also inform consumers about the actual quantity of the key ingredients in foods and it will warn people about the presence of allergens in foods.

"We believe that the Code will lead to better health outcomes for consumers in both countries," he said.

Mr Lindenmayer said the Code would operate as an alternative to current regulations during the next two years to allow time for the food industry to make the necessary changes.

"This will allow industry time to change over to the new standards, and it will also allow time to finalise work on a number of issues before the joint Code becomes the sole food standard in Australia and New Zealand," Mr Lindenmayer said.

For more information

The draft Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and fact sheets can be obtained from our website: www.anzfa.gov.au or www.anzfa.govt.nz

Media contact:

Lydia Buchtmann,

In Australia (02) 6271 2620 or 0411 268 525

or from New Zealand 0061 2 6271 2620 or 0061 411 268 525.