Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 2.9.6 – Transitional standard for special purpose foods (including amino acid modified foods)

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Legislation au F2015L00473 In force Legislative Instrument

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Standard 2.9.6 Transitional standard for special purpose foods (including amino acid modified foods)

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.

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.

Note 3 This Standard incorporates the provisions of regulations 237 and 239A of the former New Zealand Food Regulations (1984), in so far as they relate to special purpose foods and the labelling of amino acid modified foods.

Note 4 This Standard operates solely in relation to food sold or imported into New Zealand.

2.9.6—1 Name

  This Standard is Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 2.9.6 – Transitional standard for special purpose foods (including amino acid modified foods).

 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.

2.9.6—2 Definitions of amino acid modified food and special purpose food

 (1) In this Standard:

amino acid modified food means a special purpose food if, in the preparation of the food:

 (a) there is a restriction in the use of ingredients containing one or more particular amino acids; or

 (b) there is a reduction of the content of one or more particular amino acids in any of the ingredients of the food.

special purpose food means a food specially processed or formulated to satisfy particular dietary requirements that exist because of:

 (a) a particular physical or physiological condition; or

 (b) a specific disease or disorder; or

 (c) both such a condition and a disease or disorder;

  and are presented as such.

 (2) Other than in Division 2 of Standard 2.9.3 (Formulated meal replacements), a reference in this Code to a special purpose food is taken to be a reference to formulated meal replacement.

 Note The effect of subsection (2) is that additives permitted in formulated meal replacements are permitted in special purpose foods. Subsection (2) exempts special purpose foods from the requirements for minimum levels for protein, kJ; and the minimum and maximum levels for vitamins and minerals. The definition of formulated meal replacements is not intended to be taken literally in relation to special purpose foods. i.e. special purpose foods are not necessarily intended as a meal replacement.

2.9.6—3 Application

 (1) This Standard applies in relation to food produced in, or imported into, New Zealand.

 (2) Despite subsection (1), this Standard does not apply to food produced in, or imported into, Australia.

 (3) This Standard ceases to have effect 2 years after the commencement of any alternative applicable provisions elsewhere in this Code.

 (4) A provision of this Standard ceases to have effect in relation to a *very low energy food 3 years after the commencement of the Food Standards (Application A1230 – Very Low Energy Diets (VLED)) Variation.

2.9.6—4 Composition

  A special purpose food may contain any of the vitamins and minerals specified in Column 1 of the table to section S29—12 or S29—13.

2.9.6—5 Labelling of special purpose foods

  For the labelling provisions, the required information for special purpose foods is a statement of the special purpose of the food.

 Note The labelling provisions are set out in Standard 1.2.1.

2.9.6—6 Labelling of amino acid modified foods

  For the labelling provisions, the required information for *amino acid modified foods is:

 (a) one or more of the following:

 (i) the words ‘amino acid modified food’;

 (ii) the name of the amino acid or amino acids that have been restricted;

 (iii) the name of the disease, or a name describing the condition of the group of people, for which the product is intended;

 (iv) the words ‘low protein’, where applicable; and

 (b) in the nutrition information panel, a statement of each of the following:

 (i) the amount of carbohydrate, protein, and fat in the food, expressed in g;

 (ii) the energy content of the food, expressed in kJ;

 (iii) the amount of sodium, and of potassium, in the food, expressed in mg;

 (iv) the amount of the particular amino acid or protein present in the food, or both, as appropriate for the intended use of the food; and

 (c) in the principal display panel, in 3 mm lettering, the words ‘Take only on medical advice’.

 Note The labelling provisions are set out in Standard 1.2.1.

____________________

Application, saving and transitional provisions

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

 

Food Standards (Application A1230 – Very Low Energy Diets (VLED)) Variation

Item [3.1] of the Schedule

208

F2022L00733

1 June 2022

FSC 148

1 June 2022

Clause 4

 

Clause 4 of the Food Standards (Application A1230 – Very Low Energy Diets (VLED)) Variation provides a transitional arrangement for the variations to the Code made by Item [3.1] of the Schedule to that legislative instrument.

 

Subclause 4(1) provides that section 1.1.1—9 of the Code does not apply to the variations made by that instrument.

 

Subclause 4(2) provides that, during the transition period, a food product may be sold if the product complies with one of the following:

 

(a)      the Code as in force without the variations made by the instrument;

(b)      the Code as amended by the variations made by the instrument.

 

Subclause 4(3) provides that, for the purposes of the above, the transition period is the period commencing on the variation’s date of commencement and ending 36 months after the date of commencement.

 

This means that the transition period is the period of time that commences on 1 June 2022 and ends on 1 June 2025.

 

 


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 2 of Standard 2.9.6 as in force on 1 June 2022 (up to Amendment No. 208). It includes any commenced amendment affecting the compilation to that date.

 

Prepared by Food Standards Australia New Zealand on 1 June 2022.

 

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

 

Standard 2.9.6 was published in the Food Standards Gazette No. FSC96 on 10 April 2015 as part of Amendment 154 (F2015L00473 –- 1 April 2015) and has since been amended as follows:

 

Section affected

A’ment No.

FRLI registration

Gazette

Commencement

(Cessation)

How affected

Description of amendment

2.9.6—3

161

F2016L00120

18 Feb 2016

FSC103

22 Feb 2016

 

1 March 2016

 

am

Correction of formatting error in Note.

2.9.6—3

208

F2022L00733

1 June 2022

FSC 148

1 June 2022

1 June 2022

rs

Repealed and substituted 

 

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

 

 

Overview

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 2.9.6 – Transitional standard for special purpose foods (including amino acid modified foods) was introduced under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 to regulate the composition and labelling of special purpose foods, including amino acid modified foods, for the New Zealand market. This standard, which commenced on 1 March 2016, applies to food produced in or imported into New Zealand, but not Australia. It defines special purpose foods as those specially processed or formulated to meet specific dietary needs due to particular physical or physiological conditions, diseases, or disorders. The standard also outlines the permitted vitamins and minerals in these foods and mandates specific labelling requirements, such as indicating the special purpose of the food and, for amino acid modified foods, the restricted amino acids, the intended disease or condition, and the amount of specific nutrients. This transitional standard operates until alternative applicable provisions in the Code come into effect, ensuring a smooth transition for food products in the market.

Scope and Application

Standard 2.9.6 – Transitional standard for special purpose foods (including amino acid modified foods) applies to foods that are specially processed or formulated to meet particular dietary requirements due to specific conditions or diseases. This applies specifically to foods produced in or imported into New Zealand but not to those produced in or imported into Australia. The standard came into effect on 1 March 2016, as specified in notices in the Gazette and the New Zealand Gazette under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991. This standard ceases to have effect two years after the commencement of any alternative applicable provisions elsewhere in the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Code, and three years after the commencement of the Food Standards (Application A1230 – Very Low Energy Diets (VLED)) Variation for very low energy foods. The standard incorporates the provisions of regulations 237 and 239A of the former New Zealand Food Regulations (1984) to the extent that they relate to special purpose foods and the labelling of amino acid modified foods. The labelling requirements for special purpose foods include a statement of the special purpose of the food, while for amino acid modified foods, the label must include information on the restriction or reduction of amino acids and the energy content, among other things.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this legislation, Standard 2.9.6, are primarily concerned with the transitional standards for special purpose foods, including amino acid modified foods, which were incorporated into the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. This Standard specifies that it applies only to foods sold or imported into New Zealand, commencing on 1 March 2016. It defines "amino acid modified food" as a special purpose food if, during its preparation, there is either a restriction in the use of ingredients containing one or more particular amino acids, or a reduction of the content of one or more particular amino acids in any of the food's ingredients. "Special purpose food" is defined as food specially processed or formulated to satisfy particular dietary requirements due to a physical or physiological condition, a specific disease or disorder, or both. The Standard imposes specific obligations on entities involved in the production and importation of these foods into New Zealand. It mandates that special purpose foods must contain any vitamins and minerals specified in the tables to section S29-12 or S29-13. Furthermore, labelling requirements are detailed, stipulating that special purpose foods must state the special purpose of the food, while amino acid modified foods must include specific statements about the restriction or reduction of amino acids, the intended condition or disease, and nutritional information such as carbohydrate, protein, fat, energy content, sodium, potassium, and specific amino acids or protein amounts. Additionally, amino acid modified foods must prominently display the statement "Take only on medical advice" on the principal display panel. The Standard also outlines specific offences and penalties for non-compliance. While the exact penalties are not detailed in the provided text, breaches of food standards typically result in significant fines and potential criminal charges under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991. The penalties can vary depending on the severity and intent of the breach, with repeat offenders or serious violations potentially facing higher fines and even imprisonment. Non-compliance may also result in product recalls, bans on importation, and legal actions to enforce compliance, ensuring that food sold in New Zealand meets the required safety and labelling standards.

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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.