Public comment period for industrially produced trans fats extended

The public consultation period for industrially produced trans fats in processed foods has been extended until 29 September.

In August 2019, the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation (now the Food Ministers’ Meeting) asked the Food Regulation Standing Committee to consider options to improve the composition of the food supply in relation to trans fats.

The consultation was prepared by the Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC) to support consideration of regulatory and non-regulatory options for improving the composition of the food supply in relation to industrially produced trans fats.

The desired outcome of the work is to ensure industrially produced trans fats are eliminated or reduced as much as possible from the Australian and New Zealand food supply to support all population groups in minimising their consumption of it.

Three policy options in addition to the status quo were proposed by the FRSC to achieve the desired outcome. These options are not necessarily mutually exclusive and more than one can be adopted:

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

There is further information about these options available in the Public Regulation Impact Statement.

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