Regulatory review: Updates on New Zealand's natural products bill, China's health foods filing and more

New Zealand to get ‘new bill’ to regulate natural products, while industry body voices ‘grave concerns’ over exports policy​​

The New Zealand government will introduce a new bill to regulate natural products, but no decisions have been taken on the scope or approach to be adopted.

The bill will be developed following engagement with the natural health products sector.

“Work on a new natural health products bill will not commence until after we have engaged with stakeholders; and no decisions have been taken on the scope or approach to be adopted in the bill​,​”​ said the Ministry of Health.

No one-size-fits-all solution: Irresponsible of WHO to expect adherence to its guidelines over local laws – Australia’s Infant Nutrition Council​​

Local laws governing infant nutrition cannot be subservient to WHO guidelines that were not approved by member states, says Australia’s Infant Nutrition Council (INC) as it questions the role of global bodies over national policies.

These comments came in the wake of recent publications that criticised private companies for not adhering to WHO guidelines.

The INC also said that while it did not object to the WHO making recommendations, the recommendations would only be guidance notes until the national government has decided how to apply them.

Sweet move? China may allow chocolates, candies, jellies, beverages for health foods filing​​

China may allow health foods in the form of chocolates, candies, jellies, and beverages to go through the official health foods filing process.

The aim is to introduce a greater variety of health foods, especially those in the food formats, into the market, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said.

Currently, the only food format allowed to go through health foods filing is gummy.

WHO infant nutrition guidelines spark controversy over complementary feeding and formula policies in Australia​

The World Health Organization’s guidelines have ignited debate in Australia over when to introduce complementary food into an infant’s diet, and the policies governing of infant formula manufacturers.

It recommends that complementary feeding, including animal milk, should begin at six months of age.

However, Australia's national guidelines, along with those of New Zealand, the United States, and Europe, recommend that animal milk only be introduced after 12 months.

Bigger and bolder: India food firms to bump up font sizes on product labels to ensure clarity​​

Food manufacturers in India have been mandated to increase the visibility of product nutritional information, such as total sugar, salt and saturated fat, on product labels.

For instance, total sugar, total saturated fat, and sodium content should be in bold.

The move, according to the regulator, is to help consumers to better understand the nutritional value of the product they are consuming and make healthier decisions.