NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

No. 170

4416

Editorial notes:

(1) Subclauses (5), (6), (7), (8) and (9) implement a pilot trial of a management system for health claims. The outcomes of the pilot will be used to assist in the evaluation of a proposal to allow wider use of health claims in food labels and advertisements. The subclauses cease to have effect on 13 August 2002.

(2) The Australia New Zealand Food Authority maintains a Register which contains the most up to date list of approved foods/products for the folate pilot.

(3) Standard 1.2.8 – Nutrition Labelling and Standard 1.3.2 – Vitamins and Minerals should be read in conjunction with clause 1 of this Standard.

(6) A health claim must not be made in respect of the following foods -

(a) food standardised in Part 2.7 of this Code; and

(b) food standardised in Standards 2.9.1, 2.9.2 and 2.9.4 of this Code; and

(c) formulated meal replacements as standardised in Standard 2.9.3; and

(d) soft cheeses and pâté.

(7) The label on a package of food, in respect of which a health claim set out in the Table has been made, must include -

(a) a nutrition information panel in accordance with Standard 1.2.8 of this Code, which additionally includes the average quantity of folate in one serving of the food, beside the proportion of the RDI of folate contributed by one serving of the food; and

(b) an asterisk accompanying the word ‘folate’ in the nutrition information panel which refers to a footnote advising that the RDI of 200 micrograms referred to is for adults, whereas for women, at least one month before and during pregnancy, the recommended folate intake is 400 micrograms per day; and

(c) an accompanying statement that it is important to maintain a varied diet; and

(d) a statement of particular storage, handling or cooking requirements, where the ability of a food to contain at least 40 micrograms folate per each serving depends on those requirements.

(8) Where a label, in respect of which a health claim set out in the Table has been made, is displayed on or in connection with a food which is displayed for retail sale other than in a package, the label must include -

(a) a nutrition information panel in accordance with Standard 1.2.8 of this Code, which additionally includes the average quantity of folate in one serving of the food, beside the proportion of the RDI of folate contributed by one serving of the food; and

(b) an asterisk accompanying the word ‘folate’ in the nutrition information panel which refers to a footnote advising that the RDI of 200 micrograms referred to is for adults, whereas for women, at least one month before and during pregnancy, the recommended folate intake is 400 micrograms per day; and

(c) an accompanying statement that it is important to maintain a varied diet; and

(d) a statement of particular storage, handling or cooking requirements, where the ability of a food to contain at least 40 micrograms folate per each serving depends on those requirements.

(9) Where a health claim may be made in relation to a food in accordance with this Standard the same claim in relation to that food may be made in an advertisement, provided the advertisement includes a statement that it is important to maintain a varied diet.