Overview
The Food Ministers’ Meeting met on 14 November 2025 in Melbourne to consider food regulation and policy matters.
The Hon Rebecca White MP chaired the meeting. The members of the meeting are the Australian and New Zealand ministers responsible for food.
Observers: Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
Key outcomes
The key outcomes were about:
- Digital labelling
- Egg food safety and primary production requirements
- The role of the Food Regulation System in supporting increased productivity and economic growth
- FSANZ Roadmap
- Update on the decision to add human-identical milk oligosaccharides to infant formula
Digital labelling
Ministers acknowledged the growing relevance of digital labelling in the Food Regulation System (the System) and agreed to initiate a principles-based review of the System’s approach to labelling. FSANZ, in collaboration with the Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC), will lead this work, with a framework to be developed in 2026.
Ministers noted the importance of considering allergen labelling and accessibility requirements.
Egg food safety and primary production requirements
Ministers agreed to progress important reforms to strengthen egg food safety across Australia. Ministers endorsed the revised Primary Production and Processing for Eggs and Egg Products Standard, following comprehensive consultation and consideration of food safety risks, including those associated with Salmonella Enteritidis. An 18–month implementation period has been set to support industry and regulators in adopting the new requirements, which include enhanced environmental monitoring, improved traceability, and strengthened temperature and pest control measures. Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to national consistency, ongoing engagement with industry, and close collaboration with biosecurity and animal health authorities. These reforms reflect a coordinated, evidence-based approach to safeguarding public health and supporting the resilience of Australia’s egg industry.
Please note this is an Australia only standard.
The role of the Food Regulation System in supporting increased productivity and economic growth
Ministers reaffirmed the vital role of the System in supporting increased productivity and economic growth across Australia and New Zealand. Ministers acknowledged that a well-designed and efficient regulatory system provides a predictable environment for businesses to thrive, enter new markets, and innovate. All 4 strategic outcomes of the System — ensuring safe and suitable food, promoting a healthy food supply, empowering consumers, and fostering thriving food economies — contribute to national productivity and economic performance. Ministers agreed to receive annual updates from FRSC, providing greater visibility of the System’s achievements and ongoing work to enhance productivity and economic growth, while maintaining a strong focus on public health.
FSANZ Update and Roadmap
FSANZ provided ministers an update on the progress of Proposal P1066 – Review of young child formula and ongoing preparatory work to inform ministers’ future decision making on Health Star Rating system. Ministers endorsed the FSANZ Draft 2030 Roadmap as the forward plan for proposal work over the next 5 years. Developed in consultation with stakeholders, the Roadmap sets out priority projects to which align with the System strategic outcomes. Key initiatives include a targeted evaluation framework for critical food safety issues, the adoption of digital labelling and eCommerce standards, and a review to align regulations with trusted international partners. The Roadmap remains agile to accommodate urgent proposals and evolving priorities, ensuring that food standards continue to protect public health and support industry innovation. FSANZ will publish the priority proposals it will be consulting on and delivering over the next 5 years.
Five-year review of Application A1155 - 2′-FL and LNnT in infant formula and other products
Ministers noted the completion of the review of the permission to allow the addition of human-identical milk oligosaccharides (HiMO), specifically 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) and lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT), to infant formula products. The review concluded these ingredients have been shown to play a beneficial role in the normal growth and development of infants, contributing to a microbiota profile more similar to that of breastfed infants and demonstrating anti-pathogenic effects. The review report will be published on the FSANZ website shortly.
Next meeting
The food ministers will next meet in early 2026. Until then, find out more about food regulation activities.
Contact
If you have any queries, please contact the Food Regulation Secretariat.