Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Schedule 13 – Nutrition information required for food in small packages

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Legislation au F2015L00483 In force Legislative Instrument

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Schedule 13 Nutrition information required for food in small packages

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 labelling information for paragraph 1.2.8—14(1)(b).

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.

S13—1 Name

  This Standard is Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code Schedule 13 Nutrition information required for food in small packages.

 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.

S13—2 Nutrition information required for food in small packages

  For paragraph 1.2.8—14(1)(b), the table is:

Nutrition information for food in small packages

Column 1

Column 2

Claim is about

Label must include

Any nutrient or biologically active substance (other than a vitamin or mineral with a RDI)

Average quantity of the nutrient or biologically active substance present per serving of the food

Any vitamin or mineral with a RDI

(a) *Average quantity of the vitamin or mineral present per serving of the food; and

(b) Percentage of the RDI for the vitamin or mineral contributed by one serving of the food, and calculated in accordance with section 1.2.8—9

Polyunsaturated fatty acids or monounsaturated fatty acids in a food standardised in Standard 2.4.1 or 2.4.2

Saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, *polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids content per serving of the food

Polyunsaturated fatty acids or monounsaturated fatty acids in a food that is not a food standardised in Standard 2.4.1 or 2.4.2

Average quantity of saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, *polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids content per serving of the food

Cholesterol, saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, omega-6 or omega-9 fatty acids

Average quantity of saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, *polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids content per serving of the food

Dietary fibre, sugars or any other *carbohydrate

Average energy content per serving of the food and average quantity of carbohydrate, sugars and dietary fibre (calculated in accordance with section S11—4) present per serving of the food

Energy

Average energy content per serving of the food

Fat-free

Average energy content per serving of the food

Omega-3 fatty acids

(a)  Average quantity of *saturated fatty acids, *trans fatty acids, *polyunsaturated fatty acids and *monounsaturated fatty acids content per serving of the food; and

(b) Average quantity of each type of omega-3 fatty acids per serving of the food (that is, alphalinolenic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid or a combination of these); and

(c)  Average quantity of the total of omega-3 fatty acids per serving of the food

Lactose

Average quantity of galactose content per serving of the food

Potassium

Average quantity of sodium content per serving of the food

Sodium or salt

Average quantity of sodium and potassium content per serving of the food

____________________


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.

FRLI registration

Gazette

Instrument’s transitional provision

Description of transitional arrangement

Item [7] 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 [7] 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 Standard. 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 13 as in force on 3 June 2021 (up to Amendment No. 200). It includes any commenced amendment affecting the compilation to that date.

 

Prepared by Food Standards Australia New Zealand on 3 June 2021.

 

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 Standard 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 Legislative Instruments 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 13 was published in the Food Standards Gazette No. FSC96 on 10 April 2015 as part of Amendment 154 (F2015L00483 –- 2 April 2015) and has since been amended as follows:

 

Section affected

A’ment No.

FRLI registration

Gazette

Commencement

(Cessation)

How affected

Description of amendment

table to S13—2

159

F2015L01931

3 Dec 2015

FSC101

7 Dec 2015

 

1 March 2016

 

rs

Consequential amendments arising from amendments to Standard 1.2.7 and Schedule 4.

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

 

13—2

200

F2021L00684

2 June 2021

FSC141

3 June 2021

3 June 2021

am

Omit ‘sugars and dietary’, substitute ‘sugars and dietary fibre’.

 

 

Overview

The Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth) was enacted to provide a unified approach to food standards regulation between Australia and New Zealand, with the aim of ensuring the safety and quality of food available in both countries. This Act was designed to address the need for consistent food standards that protect public health and facilitate trade between the two nations. The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, including the Schedule 13 - Nutrition information required for food in small packages, is a standard under this Act. The policy objective of this particular schedule is to ensure that consumers have access to clear and accurate nutrition information on small packaged food products, aiding informed dietary choices. This standard sets out the specific nutritional information that must be included on the labels of small packaged foods, such as the average quantity of various nutrients per serving and the percentage of recommended daily intake contributed by one serving. The enactment of this legislation by the Parliament of Australia, in collaboration with the New Zealand government, aims to harmonise food labelling practices and enhance consumer protection across both countries.

Scope and Application

The legislation F2015L00483 pertains to Standard 1.2.8 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, specifically addressing the nutrition information required for food in small packages. This standard applies to food entities that manufacture, package, or label food products sold in small packages in Australia and New Zealand. The scope of the Act encompasses the nutritional labelling requirements for various nutrients and biologically active substances, including vitamins, minerals, fats, and carbohydrates. The Act came into effect on 1 March 2016, as specified in notices published in the Gazette and the New Zealand Gazette under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991. Transitional provisions allow for a period from 1 March 2016 to 18 January 2017 where food may comply with either the existing or amended Code, but not a combination of both. Additionally, there is an exemption for stock-in-trade that allows food to comply with the amended Code for 12 months from 18 January 2017 if it complied with the previous Code before this date. This legislation does not specify any exclusions or thresholds, and its application may be further defined through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

Schedule 13 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code pertains to the nutritional information required for food in small packages, and it was implemented to ensure that consumers have access to clear and accurate nutritional information on packaged foods. The primary focus is on what nutritional information must be included on food labels based on the type of nutrient or biologically active substance in the food (section 13—2). For instance, for any nutrient or biologically active substance (excluding vitamins or minerals with a Recommended Daily Intake), the label must include the average quantity of the substance per serving. For vitamins or minerals with a Recommended Daily Intake (RDI), the label must include both the average quantity per serving and the percentage of the RDI contributed by one serving of the food. Additionally, specific requirements apply for the content of fatty acids, cholesterol, sugars, dietary fibre, energy, and other nutrients. The obligations imposed by this Standard on food businesses are to ensure that their products comply with the labelling requirements set forth. This means that food manufacturers must accurately determine and disclose the nutritional content of their products on the packaging, using the specified format and units. For example, if a food contains vitamins or minerals with an RDI, the label must provide the average quantity per serving and the percentage of the RDI. Failure to comply with these labelling requirements can lead to regulatory action. Any failure to comply with the labelling requirements set out in this Standard may result in enforcement actions by food regulatory authorities. Depending on the severity and intent of the breach, penalties can include fines and other civil or criminal consequences. The maximum penalties can vary based on the jurisdiction and the specific nature of the breach but typically include significant fines for non-compliance, which can have serious repercussions for businesses, including damage to their reputation and consumer trust.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.