A summary of regulatory developments in food law in Australia and internationally, for the month of December 2021

Parts of the world have introduced minimum recycled content mandates for food packaging. At the same time, the Australian Federal Government has introduced targets relating to both the recycled content and recyclability of FMCG packaging. This article addresses what this means for the recycled content of packaging in Australia and elsewhere, some of the key differences in terminology, and important issues to consider when making claims about the recycled content of product packaging.

Commercial or trade samples are often provided by manufacturers and distributors either to commercial customers or prospects for B2B sales or B2C sales to consumers. Sometimes, the samples are provided for the purposes of market research, market testing, or to build brand awareness. This article explores these issues and laws, and provides important information for a food business to consider surrounding the provision of trade samples in Australia.

In September 2021, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) announced a review of the Primary Production Standard for Eggs and Egg Products. This standard is contained within Standard 4.2.5 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (Food Standards Code). Standard 4.2.5 was first introduced in 2012 in response to food-borne illness outbreaks suspected of being linked to eggs and egg products, and to address inconsistent regulation of the egg industry across States and Territories and an omission of coverage of the on-farm primary production of eggs. This article considers key aspects of Standard 4.2.5, and its legal enforcement at the State or Territory level, the responsibilities for a Food Management Safety Statement, traceability, and a summary of registration requirements. Other legislation regulating the marketing of eggs, and import and export laws relating to egg and egg products is also discussed.