The Food Ministers’ Meeting was held on 25 July 2024 in Adelaide, Australia to consider food regulation and policy matters. The chair was the Hon Ged Kearney MP. The Food Ministers’ Meeting members are the Australian and New Zealand ministers responsible for food and health safety.
Key outcomes
The key outcomes were about:
• regulation of infant formula products
• improving commercial foods for infants and young children
• the Health Star Rating system
• added sugar consumer research
• carbohydrate and sugar claims on alcohol
• the FSANZ Act review
• modernising the food regulatory system.
Regulation of infant formula products
The ministers agreed to not request a review of Proposal P1028 – Infant formula.
FSANZ prepared Proposal P1028 – Infant formula in 2013 to review the regulation of infant formula products (Standard 2.9.1).
The key regulatory changes include:
• clarifications to product categories including a renaming of specialised formula to Special Medical Purpose Products for infants (SMPPi) and an accompanying restriction on sale;
• aligning most nutrition composition with relevant international standards, explicitly stating permitted protein sources and clarifying novel food permissions;
• tightening of labelling provisions including:
• mandating the nutrition information statement
• clarifying the prohibition on claims
• prohibiting proxy advertising
• prescribing voluntary requirements for stage numbers
• aligning SMPPi labelling requirements with all other food for special medical purposes.
FSANZ will develop educational material for consumers, industry, health practitioners, pharmacies and jurisdictions.
New Zealand noted that due to concerns New Zealand will be considering their option to opt out of the standard.
Ministers raised concerns with toddler milk and supported work progressing through FRSC to consider this matter.
Improving commercial foods for infants and young children
In December 2023, FMM requested the Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC) develop policy options for public consultation to improve commercial foods for infants and young children. The aim of this work is to improve the composition, labelling and texture of commercial foods for infants and young children. The intent is to better align infant and young child diets with Australian and New Zealand infant and toddler feeding guidelines.
The ministers approved documents for public consultation on improving commercial foods for infants and young children.
Stakeholder consultation will open in August 2024. Stakeholders who subscribe to receive updates on food regulatory matters will receive advice when the consultation opens.
Health Star Rating system and review of the Nutrition Information Panel
In May 2024, ministers expressed their disappointment in the uptake of the Health Star Rating (HSR) system. The results are significantly off-track to reach the final target by the end of 2025 i.e. 70 percent of intended products apply an HSR by 14 November 2025.
The ministers agreed to FSANZ working with FRSC to commence preparatory work to inform ministers’ future decision-making on mandating the HSR system. This work will facilitate an efficient process to mandate the system if the final results do not reach the target. This work will not include a full review of the HSR system or algorithm. This will include consideration of specific issues such as the impact on cost of living and inconsistencies in some product categories.
This work will be undertaken in parallel with the scoping of a holistic review of the Nutrition Information Panel (NIP). Coordination of the work on both the front (HSR) and back (NIP) of packaged foods presents an opportunity to improve all aspects of nutrition labelling including information about added sugars. This will support consumers to feel informed and empowered in making choices about food.
Carbohydrate and sugar claims on alcohol
FSANZ presented a report to ministers with the findings of consumer research on carbohydrate and sugar claims on alcoholic beverages. The report found the research was broadly consistent with the previously available evidence:
• that sugar and carbohydrate claims have no effect on consumers’ intent to consume alcohol or likelihood of modifying food intake or physical activity.
Ministers discussed the policy implications of FSANZ’s research and look forward to the outcomes of:
• Proposal P1049 Carbohydrate and sugar claims on alcoholic beverages; and
• Proposal P1059 Energy labelling on alcoholic beverages
which will be presented to the FSANZ Board for consideration in late 2024/early 2025.
FSANZ Act review – project update
The Australian Government provided ministers with an update on the review of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (FSANZ Act Review).
Stakeholders were consulted on proposed concepts for the updated FSANZ Act from February to April 2024. Submissions from 78 stakeholders were considered in developing the Review Report. Submissions not marked as confidential will be published on the Consultation Hub shortly and food regulation update subscribers will receive an email once available.
The Australian Government will now progress the Review Report to the next stages in the legislative process. This will include further discussion with FRSC on key concepts.
Modernising the food regulatory system
The ministers agreed to content for a System Statement and Regulator Commitments.
The System Statement outlines:
• the purpose of the food regulatory system (the System)
• the roles of governments in the System; and
• provides an overview of System participants.
A Strategic Plan for the System is also being developed to sit alongside the System Statement. This Strategic Plan will outline the System’s focus areas for the next 3 years under the System’s 4 strategic outcomes of:
• safe and suitable food
• a healthy food supply
• informed and empowered consumers
• thriving food economies.
The Regulator Commitments outline principles for regulators across Australia and New Zealand collaborating to promote trust and improve efficiency and effectiveness throughout the System.
