Eliminating industrially produced trans fats, call for submissions

The Australian Government, on behalf of the Food Regulation Standing Committee, is leading a consultation into industrially produced trans fats in processed foods.

New Zealand and Australia share a joint food regulation system for the composition and labelling of foods.

In November 2020, the trans-Tasman Food Ministers agreed to progress work to consider options to improve the composition of the food supply in relation to trans fats.

The desired outcome is to ensure industrially produced trans fats are eliminated or reduced as much as possible from the Australian and New Zealand food supply.

In addition to the status quo, three policy options have been proposed to achieve the desired outcome:

1. Voluntary reformulation.
2. Regulatory limits for industrial trans fats in processed foods.
3. Prohibiting use of partially hydrogenated oils in processed foods.

Food regulators are now calling for submissions on these potential options, their potential impact and whether there are any alternate options.

Feedback will be used to identify a policy option to recommend changes to the Food Ministers’ Meeting.

Submissions are public information and may be published or shared with interested parties, unless there are grounds to withhold specific information.

All consultation documents, further information and instructions for making a submission are on the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care website.

At the end of August, the Ministry for Primary Industries will be co-hosting a webinar for public health stakeholders and a webinar for the food industry. The purpose of these webinars is to outline the information in the consultation materials. To register your interest in attending a webinar, send your name and the sector you represent to food.policy@mpi.govt.nz.

The consultation will close on 15 September 2023.

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