A summary of regulatory developments in food law in Australia and internationally, for the month of August 2022.

Australian governments have wide powers to protect public health and safety, the environment and the economy. This article explores when and how Australian governments can restrict or ban the import and/or export of certain food categories through the lens of examples including the Russia/Ukraine war, the May 2022 outbreak of food-and-mouth disease, high caffeine and other high-risk foods.

Product stewardship models have become increasingly popular as regulators look to achieve a more circular economy and businesses strive to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and the environment. Although stewardship frameworks focus on business and consumer engagement post-sale, participating businesses must also take important steps before the product even goes to market. This article considers examples of several product stewardship frameworks in a food context, and discusses the pre-sale requirements that a food business must meet in order to participate in each scheme.

On 22 July 2022, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) accepted an application by the Brewers Association of New Zealand that would permit pregnancy warning labels to be printed onto corrugated cardboard packaging in a single colour. This article explores the reasoning behind the application and looks at the history of the pregnancy warning requirements.