G/TBT/N/NZL/127  
12 September 2023  
(23-6041) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  NEW ZEALAND  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)  
Ph: +64 4 978 5630  
Email: standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au  
www.foodstandards.govt.nz  
Name and address (includ ing telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
New Zealand's TBT Enquiry Point  
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, New Zealand  
Ph +6448965711  
wto@standards.co.nz  
https://www.mbie.govt.nz/  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other :  
4. Prod ucts covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Imported 
and domestically produced food making 'no added sugar(s)' or 'unsweetened' voluntary 
nutrition content claims . 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Proposal P1062 
Defining added sugars for claims – Call for submissions ; (70 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  The proposal considers amending the Australia New Zealand 
Food Standards Code (the Code) to define and clarify added sugars for the purposes of 
making voluntary nutrition content claims about added sugars.  
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has undertaken an assessment and 
develope d a proposed draft variation to the Code. Standards affected are:  
(a) Schedule 4 Nutrition, health and related claims, table to section S4 —3. 
The proposed draft variation amends the required conditions for making permitted 'no 
added sugar(s)' and 'unsweetened' nutrition content claims by defining added sugar and 
clarifying what ingredients disqualify a food from making such claims when added. Upon 
adoption, a two year transition period is proposed.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  The Code permits voluntary nutrition content claims about added sugars to 
be made on foods subject to certain conditions.  G/TBT/N/NZL/127  
 
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  The New Zealand dietary guidelines recommend choosing and/or preparing food and 
drinks with littl e or no added sugar due to increased risk of excess weight gain and dental 
caries. The dietary guidelines note sugars occur naturally in foods such as fruit, 
vegetables, grains and dairy products, and are also added to foods.  
This proposal is intended to a lign the 'no added sugar(s)' claim conditions in the Code 
with the dietary guidelines, with the aim of supporting consumers to make informed 
choices in line with the dietary guidelines. Available evidence suggests the presence of 
'no added sugar' claims ma y influence consumers' perceptions of healthfulness of a food.  
The proposal is considering amending the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code 
(the Code) to define and clarify added sugars for the purposes of making voluntary 
nutrition content claims, t o align added sugar claims with dietary guideline 
recommendations about sugars.; Protection of human health or safety  
8. Relevant documents:   
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (English)  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Adoption anticipated mid -January 2024, pending 
Government consideration.  
Prop osed date of entry into force:  To be determined Early -mid 2026, after a two year 
transition period  
10. Final date for comments:  10 November 2023  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
The assessment summary and proposed draft variation to the Code are available (in 
English) from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website:  
https://www.foodstandards.govt.nz/code/proposals/Pages/P1062 -Defining -added -
sugars -for-claims.aspx  
Email:  standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au