Food Ministers’ Meeting – response to low uptake of HSR labelling
7 May 2024
Background
Last Friday 3 May, the Food Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) met and issued a communique on key outcomes.
Health Star Rating
Results from official monitoring of HSR uptake showed it was displayed on 32% of intended products in Australia and 30% in New Zealand as at mid-November 2023 – well below the interim target of 50%. Ministers described the results as “disappointing” and reiterated the need to consider mandating the system. This will be discussed further at their July meeting, where implementation options will be tabled by officials. Ministers previously agreed that if the final target of 70% by November 2025 is not met, they will consider mandating the system.
Along with the report of the HSR uptake, a summary of an online survey of industry views on the HSR system conducted in December 2023 is published on the Health Star Rating website. Key findings included that around a third of respondents (n=27) intended to apply the HSR to additional products in the next 12 months, nearly half (n=38) of respondents indicated public health was a key reason for implementing the system, and barriers to implementation included cost, lack of space on smaller labels, and commercial reasons.
A Monitoring Framework has also been developed to guide priority areas of enquiry for the HSR system over 2023-2025.
Cell-based human milk
Another outcome of the FMM was a review of an issues paper that considers regulatory framework aspects of cell-based human milk products. These are novel food products that aim to replicate human milk or human milk components manufactured through cell culture or precision fermentation technology. Ministers agreed for work to progress to amend policy guidance to ensure regulation of cell-based human milk products is consistent with ‘traditional’ infant formula products. The issues paper will be published on the Food Regulation website shortly.
Other issues
FSANZ Consumer Insights Tracker results were presented with key findings on consumers’ confidence in the safety of the food supply. The most trusted were farmers and producers, and the least were food manufacturers and processors. Other insights included that consumers trust back-of-pack labelling information more than front-of-pack labelling. The least trusted were front-of-pack labelling information, like claims about health benefits (40%), claims about nutrition/ingredient content (53%), and the Health Star Rating (55%). The report is here.
Lastly, FMM agreed to concepts and recommendations for progressing the review of the Food Regulation Agreement.
Issues for Members
The AFGC asks Members to start considering what actions may be required to prepare for label changes across their portfolios if regulation of HSR were to occur ahead of the November 2025 target deadline. Noting that the industry has been criticised for cherry picking and placing HSR on higher HSR-scoring products. The AFGC also encourages Members to consider applying HSR labelling if/when other label changes are in the pipeline to mitigate the cost of multiple label changes.
AFGC action
The AFGC has been holding industry roundtables to inform and understand member perspectives on the regulatory and political risks around preventive health, including the potential mandating of HSR labelling.
This commentary from Food Ministers is the clearest sign yet that mandating of HSR labelling is on its way and could happen sooner than expected. As part of this, AFGC is continuing to engage with governments ensuring consideration is given to industry circumstances and costs of applying HSR (and other) labelling, including having ample transition time and potential industry assistance.
Contact
For more information contact Anne-Marie Mackintosh, Associate Director – Nutrition and Regulation anne-marie.mackintosh@afgc.org.au or 0448 170 568.
Dr Duncan Craig
Director – Nutrition and Regulation
