New Food Standards Code

With little fanfare, the new Food Standards Code for Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) came into full effect on March 1 2016. This new code closely aligns with the food acts of Australian states and territories.  While in many industries, there is a transition period when new codes are introduced, there is no transition period between and the old and new code. Steve McCutcheon CEO of FSANZ explains that the “changes are relatively minor in nature”.  FRANZ has provided both a Summary of Changes and the new Food Standards Code on its website. For relevant legislation, view the relevant government website. Some consumers are disappointed that this does not go far enough. The 50 additives of concern to food intolerant people are no easier to detect by reading the Ingredients Panel, where a 5% labelling loophole has been identified to still exist. Under this loophole, manufacturers don’t have to show any additives in ingredients that make up less than five percent of the food. Flavours can still be used as vehicles for unlisted colours, including artificial colours and preservatives.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand are a bi-national Government agency. Their main responsibility is to administer the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, and as required, develop an update new editions. This code lists requirements for foods such as additives, food safety, labelling and foods that have been genetically modified.

Nutrition Panel Calculator

The new report focuses on meeting the strategic imperative of developing fit for purpose food standards. A large part of the requirement for this organisation involves analysing risk to industry and consumer groups in a wide forum. The Food Standards authority highlights that with its recent update of its website, 100,000 unique view of the Nutrition Panel Calculator makes it the most popular site page and demonstrates the public awareness about healthy eating is continuing.

 

Food Standards

Food Standards Australia New Zealand report