20 December 2002
Joint Food Standards Code Arrives
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority today welcomed the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code taking full effect.
“Work towards the Food Standards Code began in 1995 and huge resources have been put into the development of it right
across the food industry – from consumer groups to manufacturers and retailers, as well as a number of government
departments. The resulting Code is a credit to all those who have worked on it,” NZFSA Executive Director Dr Andrew
McKenzie says.
“The Code brings our food labelling and composition regulations into the 21st century, it protects public health and
safety while at the same time minimising regulations for manufacturers and producers,” Dr McKenzie said.
Consumers should notice the difference in the labelling on the food they buy. Under the Code manufacturers have to
provide consumers with more information about what’s in the food they are eating. This will allow consumers to make more
informed choices.
“Under the new Code manufacturers are required to include nutrition information panels on their products. NIPs will
outline the amount of energy (kilojoules), protein, total fat, saturated fat, total carbohydrates, sugars and sodium in
that product.”
“Consumers with allergies to some common foods will be able to tell at a glance whether that food contains the product
they are allergic to. These include foods like nuts, seafood, fish, milk, gluten, eggs and soybeans.”
“Regulators will be rewarded for their effort by having a single modern set of food composition and labelling standards.
Previously the food industry had three different sets of legislation to comply with for labelling and composition – the
New Zealand Food Regulations 1984, the Australia Food Standards Code and the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
Regulators naturally had a difficult job checking compliance because of this. With the full introduction of the
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code their job has just got easier,” Dr McKenzie said.
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