New Zealand infant formula producers have 18 months to change the packaging labels of any exported products to comply with a new government standard.
The standard restricts the use of certain words or images on the packaging, and spells out the requirements for the use of “New Zealand Made” or “Product of New Zealand” labels.
It does not apply to formula intended for domestic use or for export to Australia, which is covered by the Australia New Zealand Food Standards code, and the packaging would still have to meet requirements of the country the product is being exported to.
Words and images prohibited include:
- Health claims, unless expressly permitted by the importing country
- Pictures of infants
- Any statement that could imply infant formula is superior to breast milk
- Any logo or emblem of a NZ government department or agency
- Any use of “Humanised” and “Maternalised”
New infant formula packaging regulations coming to NZ.
To be labelled a “Product of New Zealand” all or virtually all processes involved in making the formula (whether through a wet, combined or dry-mix process), and all the packaging of it, must be carried out in NZ.
The be labelled “Made in New Zealand” it must be manufactured in a wet-mix process in NZ, or a combined process in which both the wet and dry processing components, are carried out in NZ, as well as the final blending and packaging.
