About the consultation
We want to remove or reduce industrially produced trans fats from the food supply in Australia and New Zealand. This would support all population groups to minimise their consumption of trans fats.
We are seeking feedback on 3 policy options (in addition to the status quo). These policy options are not necessarily mutually exclusive, and more than one option could be adopted.
The options are:
- voluntary reformulation
- regulatory limits for industrial trans fats in processed foods
- prohibiting use of partially hydrogenated oils in processed foods.
To find out more about these options, read the Public Consultation Regulation Impact Statement on our consultation page.
This consultation is open to everyone.
Have your say
Submissions were made on the consultation page of the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care Consultation Hub.
Online stakeholder forums
We will hold 2 forums to discuss the questions in the Regulation Impact Statement. The facilitators will be the:
- Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
- New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries.
Industry stakeholder forum
- Date: Thursday 24 August 2023
- Time: 1pm AEST, 3pm NZST
- Attendees: Food industry
Public health and consumer representative stakeholder forum
- Date: Thursday 24 August 2023
- Time: 11am AEST, 1pm NZST
- Attendees: Public health and consumer representatives
Why we are consulting
In August 2019, the food ministers asked us (the Food Regulation Standing Committee) to consider options to improve the composition of the food supply in relation to trans fats.
We prepared this consultation to support consideration of regulatory and non-regulatory options. We will use the submissions to identify a preferred option to recommend to food ministers.
Outcomes
We expect to present to the food ministers in early 2024:
- the Decision Regulation Impact Statement
- a preferred policy option and implementation mechanism.
This timing depends on the volume and complexity of the submissions.
If the food ministers support the preferred option (and it is not to maintain the status quo), industry or government (depending on the implementation mechanism) will undertake to introduce it.
Related information
This consultation:
- is part of the activity to improve the composition of the food supply
- supports the priority to reduce chronic disease related to overweight and obesity.
Contact
For any queries, please contact the Food Regulation Secretariat.