On November 19, 2021, the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) issued Notification Circular 180-21 to amend the Australia and New Zealand Food Standards Code to include very low-energy diets to reduce weight as foods for special medical purposes. The main revisions are:

(1) The recommended nutrient components of the very low-energy diet such as: energy, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and other 22 recommended minimum content;

(2) Labeling requirements. Legibility requirements, batch identification, instructions for use and storage, ingredient labels, including EU or US ingredient labels, lactose and gluten declaration conditions, ban on therapeutic declarations, allergen declarations, nutrition, health and related declarations, Mandatory warnings and advisory statements, etc.;

(3) Additional requirements. The label states the number of products recommended for consumption each day, and the number is determined by the manufacturer.

The feedback period for the amendments ends at 6 pm Canberra time on December 17, 2021.