The governments of Australia and New Zealand are inviting input on a consultation paper on sugar content labelling on packaged food and drinks.

Australia’s Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC) prepared the paper on behalf of a joint ministerial forum of Australia and New Zealand government ministers to try to identify preferred options for new sugar labelling in both countries, whether they be regulatory or non-regulatory. It has asked players in the food and drinks industry, and public health and consumer organisations, to submit responses.

Authorities say consumer information about added sugars on food labels in Australia and New Zealand is currently limited.

A statement announcing the consultation says: “Information about sugar provided on food labels in Australia and New Zealand does not provide adequate contextual information to enable consumers to make informed choices in support of dietary guidelines.”

In that context, six possible options for new labelling have been presented: “Education on how to read and interpret labelling information about sugars; change the statement of ingredients to overtly identify sugar-based ingredients; added sugars quantified in the nutrition information panel; advisory labels for foods high in added sugar; pictorial display of the amount of sugars and/or added sugars in a serving of food; and digital linking to off-label, web-based information about added sugar content.”

The paper considers the costs and benefits of the proposed options and is seeking input from stakeholders.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The FRSC says the discussion is designed to provide alternatives for sugar labelling than those currently in use rather than aiming at “specifically reducing intakes of sugars”.

Once responses have been submitted, a preferred option will be chosen and an implementation mechanism will be presented to the Forum late in 2018. 
 
“Depending on the Forum’s decision, industry or government (depending on the implementation mechanism) would then undertake to introduce the preferred policy option(s) (assuming that it is not to maintain the status quo).”