G/TBT/N/NZL/95  
19 December 2019  
(19-8862) 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)  
Name and address (including 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:   
Standards New Zealand  
Ph +64 4 498 5990  
wto@standards.co.nz   
www.standards.govt.nz  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Foods sold 
in Australia and New Zealand, including HS chapters 16 -23. 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) o f the notified document:  2nd Call for 
Submissions for Proposal P1044 - Plain English Allergen Labelling, 48 pages (in English).  
6. Description of content:  The purpose of Proposal P1044 is to consider changes to the 
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Cod e (the Code) that are necessary to address 
risks to food allergen sensitive consumers. These risks arise from the way that current 
allergen labelling requirements are structured. Standard 1.2.3 - Information 
requirements - warning statements, advisory stat ements and declarations  of the Code 
requires the mandatory declaration of the presence of certain substances in food which 
can cause severe allergic and other reactions. However, the Standard does not mandate 
how these declarations should be made or the te rminology to use when making allergen 
declarations.  
FSANZ is therefore considering changes to the Code to provide clarity and consistency in 
allergen declaration requirements, and to require the use of plain English allergen labelling 
as a means of improvi ng allergen information for consumers. Plain English Allergen 
Labelling is considered to be the use of clear and unambiguous terms in allergen 
declarations, primarily by reference to the specific source of the allergen.  
7. Objective and rationale, includi ng the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  The lack of clarity relating to allergen declarations under Code provisions 
means food allergen sensitive consumers (or those who purchase foods for these 
consumers) may not always be able to use allergen declaration information to make 
informed and safe food choices. This creates risks for the health and safety of these 
consumers, as well as making it harder for allergen sensitive consumers to find allergen 
information, and potentially a loss of confidence  in allergen declarations in general. The G/TBT/N/NZL/95  
 
- 2 - 
 
  proposed amendments to the Code are intended to provide clearer and more consistent 
allergen information on foods sold in Australia and New Zealand, so that food allergen 
sensitive consumers can make safer food cho ices. All proposals to change the Australia 
New Zealand Food Standards Code, must be assessed in the context of the following 
objectives:  (a) the protection of public health and safety; (b) the provision of adequate 
information relating to food to enable c onsumers to make informed choices; and (c) the 
prevention of misleading or deceptive conduct.; Consumer information, labelling; 
Prevention of deceptive practices and consumer protection; Protection of human health 
or safety  
8. Relevant documents:   
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (English)  
Documents are available from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website:  
http://www.foods tandards.gov.au/code/proposals/Pages/P1044PlainEnglishAllergenLabe
lling.aspx . 
9. Proposed date of adoption:  FSANZ Board approval anticipated in the second half of 
2020.  
Proposed date of entry into force:  Notification to Government anticipated before the 
end of 2020, with gazettal to follow shortly after, pending Government consideration.  
10. Final date for comments:  27 February 2020  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
Documents are available from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website:  
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/code/proposals/Pages/P1044PlainEnglishAllergenLabe
lling.aspx .