Human rights will be bought into sharper focus as the  Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 comes into effect from today. Under this new law, all new Federal laws  are to be checked to see they do not infringe human rights obligations. The new Federal legislation could have broad implications for the food and beverages industry and other industries, despite the fact that many of Australia’s food compliance laws are operative at State level rather than at the Federal level. Nonetheless,... ...Read more »

SA Health Minister John Hill has announced moves to require all major fast food retailers in South Australia to display kilojoule information on their menu boards, websites, leaflets and menus. The new regulations (under the Food Act 2001) would require food chains with 20 or more stores in SA, or 50 or more stores nationally, to state the kilojoule content of each item clearly and legibly alongside the price of the product, as well as prominently featuring the average adult daily energy intake of... ...Read more »

Food Standards Australia New Zealand has reviewed a request by Cargill to increase the maximum permitted levels of steviol glycosides, the sweetening agent in stevia, in order to provide a better taste profile. If accepted, the maximum stevia sweetener content would be raised for ice cream, water based beverages, brewed soft drinks, formulated beverages and flavoured soy beverages. An acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0-4 mg/kg bodyweight, expressed as steviol equivalents, was established by FSANZ... ...Read more »

The Federal Court has ordered two restaurants to pay a penalty of $13,200 each for misleading customers as to the price of meals in their menus on Sundays and public holidays. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) took action against two New South Wales restaurants – Helmos Enterprises (NSW) Pty Ltd, trading as Georges Bar and Grill, and Gourmet Goody’s Family Restaurant Pty Ltd, trading as Steersons Steakhouse. The ACCC alleged that the menus failed to tell customers... ...Read more »

Tasmanian Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage, David O’Byrne, yesterday annouced plans to take a proposal to Cabinet to implement a ban on lightweight plastic bags. “The Government is committed to reducing the impact of lightweight plastic bags on the environment, addressing littering and to increasing resource recovery and recycling,” O’Byrne said. “We have listened to the community’s concerns over these issues and they are telling us they want to see action.” Mr O’Byrne... ...Read more »

New South Wales Premier Kristina Kenneally yesterday announced that menus for fast-food outlets across NSW will be required to display kilojoule information on their printed and menu boards, as of February 1st 2011. Businesses such as major fast food, bakery, coffee and doughnut chains will now be required to ‘clearly and legibly’ display the kilojoule content on their menu board, as well as prominently featuring the average adult daily energy intake of 8700 kilojoules. The kilojoule... ...Read more »

The Federal Government has announced a deferral of some small business tax liabilities in the first half of 2009, with over one million small businesses likely to qualify for the tax relief. The news will be well received by the small business community, and are a sign that the government recognises the cash flow difficulties that the economic slowdown presents for smaller employers and contractors, according to the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI). “While the decision is... ...Read more »

Rules governing the size and shape of fruit and vegetables will be consigned to history after European Union Member States yesterday voted on Commission proposals to repeal specific marketing standards for 26 types of fruit and vegetables. The Commission claims the initiative is a major element in its ongoing efforts to streamline and simplify EU rules and cut red tape. For 10 types of fruit and vegetables, including apples, strawberries and tomatoes, marketing standards will remain in place. But... ...Read more »

The Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs, Chris Bowen, has announced a package of measures providing criminal sanctions for serious cartel conduct, including providing power to the ACCC to tap telephone calls for investigatory purposes. After lengthy consultation with businesses, academics and the community at large, the Government yesterday released the final cartels bill in response to their election promise. “Together with the United States, the 10‑year... ...Read more »

The Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs (MCCA) has agreed that all Australian governments should adopt a new national consumer law, which will operate in all Australian jurisdictions and remains consistent. “Today the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments have placed the Australian consumer front and centre, as we took an important step on the road to achieving a single, national consumer law,” Consumer Affairs Minister, Chris Bowen, said. “These reforms will bring... ...Read more »