FSANZ is considering whether the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) should be amended to require packaged foods sold in Australia and New Zealand to display a Health Star Rating (HSR) symbol.
Under the proposed approach, a mandatory HSR system is expected to:
- improve the consistency, comparability and accessibility of nutrition information
- address limitations of the voluntary approach
- strengthen consumer trust
- provide greater regulatory certainty for industry and enforcement agencies
Improved health outcomes are expected if consumers use the mandatory system to choose healthier products. Further benefits may come from a healthier food supply if food manufacturers formulate or reformulate packaged food products to improve their HSR.
FSANZ notes the importance of consumer education to complement and support a mandatory system to maximise its effectiveness.
FSANZ has undertaken a first round of public consultation on this proposal. This second call for submissions (CFS) seeks feedback on the proposed regulatory approach and draft variation to the Code to inform FSANZ’s final assessment.
What’s being proposed?
The second CFS outlines FSANZ’s proposed regulatory approach. The proposed approach has been revised since the first CFS to clarify the requirements and simplify implementation and enforcement. Its intent has not changed, which is to:
- require the HSR symbol to be displayed on most packaged foods for retail sale where a nutrition information panel is required, subject to specified exemptions and prohibitions
- standardise the HSR symbol design and location
- require the HSR to be calculated using a prescribed algorithm.
FSANZ is also proposing:
- a transition period of at least 3 years
- a separate 2-year stock-in-trade period.
The transition period would give businesses time to coordinate the proposed labelling changes with routine labelling updates. The stock-in-trade period would help reduce packaging write-off and food waste.
Assessment and evidence
FSANZ’s assessment is informed by:
- findings from the HSR preparatory work
- consumer research
- modelling and assessment of the performance of the HSR algorithm
- HSR system technical assessments
- international front-of-pack nutrition labelling schemes
- feedback received from the first CFS
Evidence considered by FSANZ indicates consumers appreciate the simplicity of the HSR system and understand that more stars indicate a healthier food relative to a food with fewer stars.
Mandating the HSR system would make it more widely available across products, improving consumers’ ability to compare foods. Modelling also shows there is good overall alignment of the HSR algorithm with dietary guidelines.
Consultation
2nd Call for submissions
This proposal is being assessed under FSANZ’s major procedure, incorporating 2 rounds of public consultation. In recognition of the high level of stakeholder and public interest in this proposal, FSANZ has extended its usual 6-week consultation period to 8 weeks. The second consultation will run from 28 October to 23 December 2026.
- P1067 Second call for submissions report (1.58 MB)
- P1067 Supporting document 1 – Performance of the Health Star Rating algorithm (939 KB)
- P1067 Supporting document 2 – Health Star Rating system technical assessments (786 KB)
- P1067 Supporting document 3 – Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (713 KB)
- P1067 Supporting document 4 – FSANZ Act Assessment Requirements (337 KB)
To have your say on Proposal P1067, visit the P1067 2nd CFS Consultation Hub page.
Webinars will be held during the consultation period to help stakeholders understand the proposed changes.
To receive FSANZ updates about Proposal P1067, including dates and details for planned webinars, please join our mailing list.
1st Call for submissions
The first call for submissions was completed on 5 July 2026.
- P1067 Call for submissions (1 MB)
- P1067 SD1 Health Star Rating consumer literature review (1 MB)
- P1067 SD2 Nutrition labelling focus groups (3.8 MB)
- P1067 SD3 Performance of the Health Star Rating algorithm (1.6 MB)
- P1067 SD4 Health Star Rating symbol assessment (1.1 MB)
- P1067 SD5 Health Star Rating technical assessments (1.1 MB)
- P1067 SD6 Preliminary consideration of costs and benefits (518 KB)
Submissions have been published on the P1067 Consultation Hub page.
Administrative assessment
Background
About the HSR system
The HSR system is an interpretive front‑of‑pack nutrition labelling system that summarises a food’s overall nutritional profile using a simple star rating.
The HSR system is currently voluntary. Proposal P1067 considers whether mandating the HSR system would improve how nutrition information is provided on food labels in Australia and New Zealand.
Why is FSANZ looking at this now?
Proposal P1067 was raised following a February 2026 request from the Food Ministers’ Meeting after voluntary uptake targets for the HSR system were not met.
While consumer awareness and use of the voluntary HSR system is high, assessment to date indicates that inconsistent uptake across products limits its effectiveness and contributes to variable consumer trust and understanding.
Preparatory work
In July 2024, food ministers asked FSANZ to start preparatory work on the potential mandating of the HSR system.
FSANZ’s preparatory work was undertaken to inform ministers’ decision-making on whether the HSR system should be mandated if the final uptake target was not met by industry (70% of intended products to display the HSR by 14 November 2025.
Read more about the HSR preparatory work and NIP review.