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QSS helps companies assess their products under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and prepare applications to FSANZ for novel food approval. If your food or ingredient is not yet listed in the Code, we can confirm what is required and get your application ready for submission.
Novel foods are non-traditional foods that require assessment by FSANZ to establish their safety before they are added to the food supply. In Australia and New Zealand, novel foods and novel food ingredients are regulated under Standards 1.1.1 and 1.5.1 in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
A novel food cannot be sold at retail or used as an ingredient in a food for retail sale unless it is listed in the table to section S25-2 of the Code, which sets out permitted novel foods together with their conditions for use, including use levels, restrictions, and labelling requirements.
A novel food meets a two-stage test under the Code: it must be a non-traditional food with no history of human consumption in Australia or New Zealand, and it must require an assessment of public health and safety. Before submitting a formal application, companies can seek advice from the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods (ACNF) on whether their product is classified as a novel food, though this advice is not legally binding.
Once an application is accepted, the assessment process takes 9 to 12 months, with the full process from acceptance running 12 to 15 months. Preparing an application that meets FSANZ's requirements from the outset is the most reliable way to move through that process without delays. QSS works with companies from initial product assessment through to dossier preparation and submission support.
We evaluate your product against the criteria in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to confirm whether it qualifies as a novel food and whether an application to amend the Code is required before you can sell in either market.
Where it is appropriate to seek advice from the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods before submitting a formal application, we help you prepare and submit the inquiry and interpret the committee’s recommendations in the context of your regulatory strategy.
We prepare your full application to vary the Food Standards Code in line with FSANZ’s Application Handbook, including product description, proposed conditions of use, safety assessment data, and all required supporting documentation.
We review your existing scientific data against FSANZ’s requirements, identify any gaps in composition, toxicology, or exposure data, and advise on what additional information may be needed before submission.
We manage the submission of your application and support follow-up communication with FSANZ throughout the administrative and scientific assessment phases.
Once a novel food is listed in the Code, its permitted uses, use levels, and any labelling requirements are specified in the listing. We help you understand and apply those conditions correctly for your product and market.
Explore articles, blogs, and videos on FSANZ regulations, novel food applications, and entering the Australian and New Zealand markets.
A novel food is a non-traditional food that has no history of human consumption in Australia or New Zealand and requires a public health and safety assessment before it can be sold. If your food or ingredient is not listed in the Code, it cannot be legally sold at retail or used as an ingredient in a retail food product until it receives approval through the FSANZ application process.
The determination depends on whether the food has a history of human consumption in Australia or New Zealand and whether a public health and safety assessment is required. Companies can seek an opinion from the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods before submitting a formal application. We assess your product against the Code’s criteria and advise you on your regulatory status and next steps.
An application to vary the Food Standards Code must meet the requirements of the FSANZ Act and the Application Handbook. It includes a product description, proposed conditions of use, and scientific data to support a safety assessment. FSANZ conducts an administrative assessment within 15 business days of receiving the application to determine whether to accept it, after which the scientific assessment commences.
From acceptance, the scientific assessment takes 9 to 12 months, with the full process from acceptance to gazettal running 12 to 15 months. A well-prepared application that meets FSANZ’s data requirements from the outset is the most effective way to avoid extension of those timelines.
Yes. The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code applies in both countries, and an approved amendment to the Code takes effect in both markets. Parts 3 and 4 of the Code apply only in Australia, so it is important to understand which standards are relevant to your specific product and intended market.
Both frameworks require pre-market safety assessment for non-traditional foods, but the criteria for classification differ. A food classified as novel in the EU may not be classified as novel in Australia and New Zealand, and vice versa. We help companies navigating multiple markets understand how their product is classified in each jurisdiction and plan their regulatory strategy accordingly.
Once approved, your food or ingredient is listed in section S25-2 of the Code with specified conditions of use, including any use levels, restrictions, and labelling requirements. We help you understand what those conditions mean for your product formulation and packaging before you go to market.