Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Schedule 12 – Nutrition information panels

Administered by Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

Legislation au F2015L00482 In force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Schedule 12 Nutrition information panels

Note 1 This instrument is a standard under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). The standards together make up the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. See also section 1.1.1—3.

 Standard 1.2.8 is a standard for nutrition information requirements. This Standard sets out nutrition information panels for subsection 1.2.8—6(2), subsection 1.2.8—6(3), subsection 1.2.8—6(5), subsection 1.2.8—8(3), paragraph 2.6.4—5(2)(b), subsection 2.9.2—11(3) and subsection 2.10.3—5(3).

Note 2 The provisions of the Code that apply in New Zealand are incorporated in, or adopted under, the Food Act 2014 (NZ). See also section 1.1.1—3.

S12—1 Name

  This Standard is Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code Schedule 12 Nutrition information panels.

 Note Commencement:
This Standard commences on 1 March 2016, being the date specified as the commencement date in notices in the Gazette and the New Zealand Gazette under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). See also section 93 of that Act.

S12—2 Format for nutrition information panel—subsection 1.2.8—6(2)

  For subsection 1.2.8—6(2), the format for a nutrition information panel is:

NUTRITION INFORMATION

 

Servings per package: (insert number of servings)

Serving size: g (or mL or other units as appropriate)

 

Quantity per serving

Quantity per 100 g (or
100 mL)

Energy

kJ (Cal)

kJ (Cal)

Protein

g

g

Fat, total
—saturated

g

g

g

g

Carbohydrate
—sugars

g

g

g

g

Sodium

mg (mmol)

mg (mmol)

(insert any other nutrient or biologically active substance to be declared)

g, mg, μg (or other units as appropriate)

g, mg, μg (or other units as appropriate)


S12—3 Format for nutrition information panels—subsection 1.2.8—6(3) and 1.2.8—6(5)

  For subsection 1.2.8—6(3), 1.2.8—6(5), 1.2.8—6(11), 1.2.8—6(12) and 1.2.8—6(13), the format for a nutrition information panel is:

 

NUTRITION INFORMATION

 

Servings per package: (insert number of servings)

Serving size: g (or mL or other units as appropriate)

 

Quantity per Serving

Quantity per 100 g (or
100 mL)

Energy

kJ (Cal)

kJ (Cal)

Protein, total
—*

g

g

g

g

Fat, total

 —saturated

      —**

 —trans

      —**

 —polyunsaturated

      —**

 —monounsaturated

      —**

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

Cholesterol

mg

mg

Carbohydrate

 —sugars

      —**

      — **

      —**

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

g

Dietary fibre, total

 —*

g

g

g

g 

Sodium

mg (mmol)

mg (mmol)

(insert any other nutrient or biologically active substance to be declared)

g, mg, μg (or other units as appropriate)

g, mg, μg (or other units as appropriate)

 Note * indicates a sub-group nutrient

  ** indicates a sub-sub-group nutrient

 Note The word ‘total’ following ‘protein’ or ‘dietary fibre’ in the first column of the panel need only be included if it is followed immediately by a sub-group.


S12—4 Format for nutrition information panel—percentage daily intake information

  For subsection 1.2.8—8(3), an example nutrition information panel with percentage daily intake information is:

 

NUTRITION INFORMATION

 

Servings per package: (insert number of servings)

Serving size: g (or mL or other units as appropriate)

 

Quantity per serving

% Daily intake* (per serving)

Quantity per 100 g (or 100 mL)

Energy

kJ (Cal)

%

kJ (Cal)

Protein

g

%

g

Fat, total

 —saturated

g

g

%

%

g

g

Carbohydrate

 —sugars

g

g

%

%

g

g

Sodium

mg (mmol)

%

mg (mmol)

(insert any other nutrient or biologically active substance to be declared)

g, mg, μg (or other units as appropriate)

%

g, mg, μg (or other units as appropriate)

 

*Percentage daily intakes are based on an average adult diet of 8700 kJ.


S12—5 Sample format for nutrition information panel—formulated caffeinated beverages

  For section 2.6.4—5, an example of the placement of the declarations required by paragraph 2.6.4—5(2)(b) adjacent to or following a nutrition information panel is:

 

NUTRITION INFORMATION

 

Servings per package: (insert number of servings)

Serving size: 250 mL

 

Quantity per Serving

Quantity per 100 mL

Energy

kJ (Cal)

kJ (Cal)

Protein

g

g

Fat, total

 saturated

g

g

g

g

Carbohydrate, total

 sugars

g

g

g

g

Sodium

mg (mmol)

mg (mmol)

COMPOSITION INFORMATION

Caffeine

mg

mg

Thiamin

mg

mg

Riboflavin

mg

mg

Niacin

mg

mg

Vitamin B6

mg

mg

Vitamin B12

μg

μg

Pantothenic acid

mg

mg

Taurine

mg

mg

Glucuronolactone

mg

mg

Inositol

mg

mg


S12—6 Nutrition information panel—food for infants

  For subsection 2.9.2—11(3), the format for the nutrition information panel is:

 

NUTRITION INFORMATION

 

Servings per package:  (insert number of servings)

Serving size: g (or mL or other units as appropriate)

 

Quantity per Serving

 

Quantity per 100 g (or 100 mL)

Energy

kJ (Cal)

kJ (Cal)

Protein

g

g

Fat, total

— (insert claimed fatty acids)

g

g

g

g

Carbohydrate

sugars

g

g

g

g

Sodium

mg (mmol)

mg (mmol)

(insert any other nutrient or biologically active substance to be declared)

g, mg, μg (or other units as appropriate)

 

g, mg, μg (or other units as appropriate)

S12—7 Nutrition information panel—calcium in chewing gum

  For section 2.10.3—5(3), the nutrition information panel may, for example, be set out in the following format:

 

NUTRITION INFORMATION

 

Servings per package:  10

Serving size:  3 g

 

Average quantity per serving

Average quantity per 100 g

Energy

25 kJ

833 kJ

Protein

0 g

0 g

Fat, total

– saturated

0 g

0 g

0 g

0 g

Carbohydrate

– sugars

Less than 1 g

Less than 1 g

Less than 1 g

Less than 1 g

Dietary fibre

0 g

0 g

Sodium

0 mg

0 mg

Calcium*

80 mg (10% RDI**)

2670 mg

*average quantity of calcium released during 20 minutes of chewing

**Recommended Dietary Intake

____________________

Application, saving and transitional provisions

The table below details information on application, saving or transitional provisions in instruments affecting this Schedule.

 

Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Transitional Variation 2015 (Proposal P1037 – Amendments associated with Nutrition Content & Health Claims)

Instrument items affected

A’ment No.

FRL registration

Gazette

Instrument’s transitional provision

Description of transitional arrangement

Item [6] of the Schedule

159

F2015L01931

3 Dec 2015

FSC101

7 Dec 2015

 

Clause 4

 

Clause 4 establishes a transitional arrangement for variations to the Code made by Item [6] of the Schedule.

 

The transition period is the period of time that commences on 1 March 2016 and ends on 18 January 2017.

 

Subclause 4(2) provides that section 1.1.1—9 of the Code does not apply to the above variations.

 

Subclause 4(3) provides that, during the transition period, a food may comply with either:

 

(a) the Code as in force without the above variations; or

(b)  the Code as amended by the above variations;

 

but not a combination of both.

 

Subclause 4(4) provides an exemption for stock-in-trade that will apply from 18 January 2007. A food is deemed to comply with the Code as amended by the above variations for a period of 12 months commencing on 18 January 2017 if the food otherwise complied with the Code before that date.

 

Amendment History

The Amendment History provides information about each amendment to the Schedule. The information includes commencement or cessation information for relevant amendments.

 

These amendments are made under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 unless otherwise indicated. Amendments do not have a specific date for cessation unless indicated as such.

 

About this compilation

 

This is compilation No. 2 of Schedule 12 as in force on 13 April 2017 (up to Amendment No. 168). It includes any commenced amendment affecting the compilation to that date.

 

Prepared by Food Standards Australia New Zealand on 13 April 2017.

 

Uncommenced amendments or provisions ceasing to have effect

 

To assist stakeholders, the effect of any uncommenced amendments or provisions which will cease to have effect, may be reflected in the Schedule as shaded boxed text with the relevant commencement or cessation date. These amendments will be reflected in a compilation registered on the Federal Register of Legislation including or omitting those amendments and provided in the Amendment History once the date is passed.

 

 


The following abbreviations may be used in the table below:

 

ad = added or inserted am = amended

exp = expired or ceased to have effect rep = repealed

rs = repealed and substituted

 

Schedule 12 was published in the Food Standards Gazette No. FSC96 on 10 April 2015 as part of Amendment 154 (F2015L00482 –- 2 April 2015) and has since been amended as follows:

 

Section affected

A’ment No.

FRL registration

Gazette

Commencement

(Cessation)

How affected

Description of amendment

S12—3

159

F2015L01931

3 Dec 2015

FSC101

7 Dec 2015

 

1 March 2016

 

am

Cross-references to Standard 1.2.8.

For application, saving and transitional provisions, see above table.

S12—4

161

F2016L00120

18 Feb 2016

FSC103

22 Feb 2016

 

1 March 2016

 

am

Omission of text from nutrition information panel example as it is not relevant.

table to S12—7

168

F2017L00414

11 April 2017

FSC110

13 April 2017

 

13 April 2017

am

Reference to ‘serve’ replaced with ‘serving’ for consistency.

 

Overview

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Schedule 12 – Nutrition information panels was introduced as a legislative instrument under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991. The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that nutrition information panels on food products provide accurate and consistent information to consumers, thereby enabling them to make informed dietary choices. This was achieved by establishing a uniform format for nutrition information panels across both Australia and New Zealand. The standards were developed and are administered by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), with the objective of improving public health outcomes by ensuring that consumers have access to clear and reliable information about the nutritional content of food products. The legislative instrument became effective on 1 March 2016, and it was introduced to address issues related to the variability and inconsistency in the presentation of nutrition information on food labels, which could potentially mislead consumers. By setting a standardised format for nutrition information panels, the legislation aims to enhance consumer understanding and trust in food labelling. The transitional provisions allow for a period during which food products can comply with either the old or new standards, ensuring a smooth implementation process and providing flexibility to businesses in adapting to the new requirements.

Scope and Application

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Schedule 12 – Nutrition information panels applies to food products manufactured or packaged for sale in Australia and New Zealand. The purpose of this legislation is to standardise the presentation of nutrition information on food labels, ensuring consumers have consistent and clear information about the nutritional content of the foods they purchase. The Standard is applicable to food entities and businesses involved in the manufacturing, packaging, or labelling of food products intended for retail sale. The geographic reach of this Standard is across both Australia and New Zealand, given its adoption under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). The legislation does not specify exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds for its application; however, certain food products such as raw agricultural produce and food sold in small quantities may be subject to different regulations. The application of the Standard may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments under the Act, which may provide additional clarification or specify exceptions for particular types of food products or circumstances.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of the legislative instrument detail the requirements for nutrition information panels on food products. Section 1.2.8—6(2) specifies the format for a nutrition information panel that must include details such as the number of servings per package, serving size, quantity per serving, quantity per 100 grams or 100 millilitres, and various nutrient values like energy, protein, fat (including total, saturated, polyunsaturated, and monounsaturated fats), carbohydrates (including sugars), sodium, and any other declared nutrients or biologically active substances. Similarly, Section 1.2.8—6(3) and 1.2.8—6(5) provide a more detailed format, requiring additional nutrient breakdowns such as cholesterol, dietary fibre, and other sub-group and sub-sub-group nutrients. The obligations imposed by the Act on the parties or entities it governs primarily involve ensuring that all food products have an accurate and complete nutrition information panel as specified in the relevant sections of the Code. Manufacturers, importers, and retailers must adhere to the specified formats and include all required nutrient information to enable consumers to make informed dietary choices. For example, formulated caffeinated beverages must include specific nutrient and composition information, as outlined in Section 2.6.4—5. Similarly, food for infants must comply with the format detailed in subsection 2.9.2—11(3), and calcium in chewing gum must adhere to the format set out in section 2.10.3—5(3). The Act also stipulates potential consequences for non-compliance. Offences and penalties are not explicitly detailed within the provided text, but generally, breaches of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code can result in significant civil or criminal penalties. Under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991, penalties can include fines and, in severe cases, imprisonment. The exact penalties may vary depending on the nature and severity of the breach, and enforcement actions are typically taken by regulatory authorities to ensure compliance with food standards.

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