On 25 April 2023, Australia issued Notification G/TBT/N/AUS/155 through the WTO, announcing proposal P1028 to amend the “Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code”. The main objective of the proposal is to revise and clarify relevant standards in the Code to ensure the safety and suitability of infant formula products. The revised regulations on infant formula milk powder are as follows:

1. Redraft relevant provisions in Standard 2.9.1 and Schedule 29 concerning different requirements for infant formula product sub-categories (infant formula, subsequent formula and special medical use products for infants);

2. Revised nutrient component value;

3. To revise the licensing of food additives, pollutants and processing AIDS;

4. Add the definition of SMPPi, and revise the relevant contents of 2.9.5 food for special medical use in terms of nutritional content, marketing restrictions and independent label approval;

5. Revise and develop safety-related labels (including use and storage instructions, warning statements and age-related statements), information provision (including nutritional information, stage marking and prohibition of agency advertising) and SMPPi labels;

5. An amendment clarifying the requirements for the addition of novel foods to infant formula.

The revision is intended to be published in 2024 with a five-year transition period, with implementation expected to begin in 2029.

The notification is open for comment until July 7, 2023.