Both Nutrient Function Claims in China and Health Claims in Australia and New Zealand need to meet certain conditions, but there are some differences when claims are made. Foodmate analyzed and compared the two kinds of claims for reference.

1. Summary of claims

The definitions, claim contents, and standard/regulatory sources for two kinds of claims are shown in Table 1.

Table 1 The definitions, claim contents, and standard/regulatory sources for two kinds of claims

2. Claimed scope of application

2.1 Nutrient Function Claims in China

Nutrient Function Claims are applicable to Nutrient Function Claim on the labels of prepackaged foods, but not applicable to the advertisements. Even then, Nutrient Function Claim in the advertisements shall be true and accurate.

2.2 Health Claims in Australia and New Zealand

Health claims are applicable to claims on labels and in advertisements. However, health claims can not be made about certain foods such as kava peppers, infant formulas, and foods containing more than 1.15% alcohol.

3. Claimed conditions

3.1 Nutrient Function Claims in China

When nutrient function claims are made on the labels of the prepackaged food , the labeled content value of the nutritional component should meet the requirements for content and restrictive conditions in Table C.1 or the requirements and conditions in Table C.3 in GB 28050, and the content and percentage of Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) of such nutritional component shall be indicated in the Nutrition Facts.

3.2 Health Claims in Australia and New Zealand

Health claims are only permitted on foods that meet the NPSC set out in Standard 1.2.7, but a special purpose food does not need to meet the NPSC.

A food-health relationship is the relationship between a food or a property of the food and a health effect. To make a health claim a food-health relationship must be established. A high level claim must be based on a food-health relationship provided in section S4—4. A food-health relationship for general level health claims can be established in one of two ways: it is listed in section S4—5; or following a process of systematic review as described in Schedule 6.

4. Claimed terms

4.1 Nutrient Function Claims in China

When the labeled content value of a certain nutritional component meets the requirements and conditions of nutrient content claim or nutrient comparative claim, corresponding one or more standard diction of nutrient function claim in Annex D of GB 28050 may be used on the labels. The diction of function claim shall not be deleted, altered, added or combined in any form. For example, nutrient function claims about Dietary Fiber include “Dietary fiber can help maintain normal function of intestines. ” and “Dietary fiber is of low energy. ”. So, the nutrient function claims may be made by “Dietary fiber can help maintain normal function of intestines. Dietary fiber is of low energy. ”, but not “Dietary fiber can help maintain normal function of intestines and is of low energy. ”

4.2 Health Claims in Australia and New Zealand

The wording used when making a health claim is not specified in Standard 1.2.7. Any statement required by Standard 1.2.7 can be modified as long as the modification has the same meaning as the required statement.

5. The position and size of claims

In China, nutrient function claim may be arranged at any position of the label. However, the character size shall not be larger than that of food name and trademark.

In Australia and New Zealand, the position and size when making a health claim are not specified.

Summary

Health claims in Australia and New Zealand are quite different from nutritional content claims in China. Foods exported to China or Australia and New Zealand should comply with the conditions if the claims are made.