STANDARD 1

Standard 1.1A.6

Transitional Standard for special purposes foods (including amino acid modified foods)

(New Zealand only)

Purpose

This Standard incorporates the provisions of Regulations 237 and 239A of the former New Zealand Food Regulations (1984), in so far as they relate to special purpose foods and amino acid modified foods. It is anticipated that this Standard will be repealed upon the development of Standards regulating medical foods and food type dietary supplements. This Standard operates solely in relation to food sold or imported into New Zealand.

Clauses

1 Interpretation

(1) In this Standard –

amino acid modified food means a special purpose food that in the preparation of which there has been a restriction in the use of ingredients containing one or more particular amino acids or a reduction of the content of one or more particular amino acids in any of the ingredients.

special purpose food means a food specially processed or formulated to satisfy particular dietary requirements that exist because of –

(a) a particular physical or physiological condition; or

(b) a specific disease or disorder; or

and are presented as such.

(2) Other than in Division 2 in Standard 2.9.3, a reference in this Code to a special purpose food is taken to be a reference to formulated meal replacement.

Editorial note:

The effect of subclause 1(2) is that additives permitted in formulated meal replacements are permitted in special purpose foods. Subclause 1(2) exempts special purpose foods from the requirements for minimum levels for protein, kJ; and the minimum and maximum levels for vitamins and minerals. The definition of formulated meal replacements is not intended to be taken literally in relation to special purpose foods. i.e. special purpose foods are not necessarily intended as a meal replacement.

2 Application

(1) Subject to subclause (2), for the matters regulated in this Standard, food produced in or imported into New Zealand must comply with this Standard.

(2) This Standard does not apply to food produced in or imported into Australia.

(3) This Standard ceases to have effect in relation to:

(a) food for special medical purposes on the date of gazettal of Food Standards (Proposal 1023 – Tutin, Tocopherols & Food for Special Medical Purposes Standards Amendments) Variation; and

(b) other special purposes food, including food formulated and represented as being for the dietary management of obesity or overweight, two years from the commencement of any alternative applicable provisions elsewhere in this Code.

3 Composition

Special purpose foods may contain any of the vitamins and minerals specified in column 1 of Table 1 and column 1 of Table 2 in Standard 2.9.3.

4 Labelling of special purpose foods

Every label used in connection with a special purpose food must state the special purpose of the food.

5 Labelling of amino acid modified foods

(1) The label on each package of amino acid modified food shall bear one or more of the following –

(a) the words ‘amino acid modified food’;

(b) the name of the amino acid or amino acids that have been restricted;

(c) the name of the disease, or a name describing the condition of the group of people, for which the product is intended;

(d) the words ‘low protein’, where applicable.

(2) The label on each package of amino acid modified food shall bear, in the nutrition information panel, a statement of –

(a) the quantity of carbohydrate, protein, and fat in the food, expressed in g; and

(b) the energy content of the food, expressed in kJ; and

(d) the quantity of the particular amino acid or protein present in the food, or both, as appropriate for the intended use of the food.

(3) The label on each package of amino acid modified food shall bear, in the principal display panel, in 3 mm lettering, the words ‘Take only on medical advice’.