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Health Star Rating mandate
- Food For Sale
Health Star Rating mandate
Health Star Rating (HSR) mandate is in the hands of regulators. It was agreed upon in the recent Food Minister’s meeting in Adelaide. The Food Ministers’ Meeting was to consider food regulation and policy matters. One of the important outcomes from the conference was about the Health Star Rating system.
The Ministers had expressed their concerns in the uptake of the HSR system. So far, the results have been significantly off-track. Therefore, it may not reach the final goal by the end of 2025. The target has been for 70 percent of the intended products to apply an HSR by 14 November 2025.
Target
The food manufacturers set itself a target in 2020. It was to achieve ratings of 60 percent of the intended products by 14 November 2024. However current achievement is only 32 percent. Thus, it is far behind the target.
The peak body for the public health welcomes the decision of the Food Ministers’ Meeting to mandate Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the Food Regulation Standing Committee. They will inform future decision-making to mandate the HSR system. Therefore, the decision shifts oversight from food industry in the Health Star Ratings Advisory Committee to government regulators. Thus far, ministers have agreed to simultaneously commence a holistic review of the Nutrition Information Panel (NIP). It is an important policy action. This was actively advocated by the Public Health Association of Australia and other health bodies.
Serving people
It has been a necessary step to mandate the Health Star Rating system to ensure that food labelling in Australia better serves people in Australia. Public Health Association of Australia welcomes this decision. According to the Public Health Association it will be serving Australian consumer to make better choices with food.
The meeting included discussions on several other products. For example ministers are agreeing on regulation of the infant formula products. It will be improving commercial foods for infants and young children. Thus far, ministers have approved documents for public consultation. This meeting looked at the ‘added sugar’ consumer research too. It discussed the policy implications of FSANZ’s research. Hence, it will be looking forward to the outcomes of: Proposal P1049 Carbohydrate and sugar claims. Therefore, it reviews alcoholic drinks too. It will look at the Proposal P1059 Energy labelling on alcoholic drinks.
FSANZ Act
The FSANZ Act review has progressed to the next stage in the legislative process. It expects to be modernising the food regulatory system (the System). Ministers agreeing on content for a System Statement and Regulator Commitments. It will include a strategic plan for the system. Thus far, System Statement outlines the purpose of the food regulatory system and the roles of governments in the System. Furthermore, it will provide an overview of the System participants.
The Strategic Plan for the System being developed will sit alongside the System Statement. So, this Strategic Plan will include overview the System’s focus areas for the next 3 years. Therefore, under the System’s strategic outcomes will be safe and suitable food, a healthy supply, informed and empowered consumers together with thriving food economies. Finally, the Regulator Commitments outlines principles for regulators throughout Australia and New Zealand.
