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Exporting products with health and nutrition content claims
Find the rules you need to follow in New Zealand and for our top export markets.
The difference between health claims and nutrition content claims
Food and beverage manufacturers may make voluntary health and nutrition claims about their products. Typically, these claims appear on the product's label.
A health claim makes a link between a product and a health benefit. A claim may state, suggest, or imply that a food or a property of food has, or may have, a health effect. An example is 'calcium is good for strong bones'.
A nutrition content claim states how much of a nutrient or substance is in a food. Any nutrition information on food labels is considered a nutrition content claim. For example:
- contains vitamin C
- low in sugar
- gluten-free
- now with reduced salt.
Selling these products in New Zealand or Australia
If you are selling products with health or nutrient content claims in New Zealand or Australia, there are rules to follow. The rules are in the Food Standards Code. (Note that there are differences in infant formula requirements between Australia and New Zealand).
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 1.2.7 – Nutrition, health and related claims
Find out more about the rules
Making and substantiating a health claim
Making a nutrition content claim
Exporting products with health and nutrition claims
To export food and beverages with health claims and nutrition content claims, you’ll usually need to meet the rules for:
- New Zealand products (unless you have an exemption)
- your destination market.
For each country or market you're exporting to, the rules will vary. You will need to check what requirements apply to your destination market.
To help you, we've included information on this page for New Zealand's top export markets.
Note: The information on this page does not apply to dietary supplements.
Health and nutrition claim guidance for destination markets
New Zealand exporters must ensure compliance with health claim and nutrition content claim rules in their target markets. To help you, we've collated some information and links for New Zealand's top export markets.
This information is only a guide. It must be read in conjunction with each market’s domestic laws, Overseas Market Access Requirement (OMAR) documents, and Importing Country Phytosanitary Requirement (ICPR) documents. We strongly recommend you work closely with a trusted importer, a consultant, or the relevant overseas authorities to confirm requirements.
Choose your export market
Note: We've sourced the information and links for these markets from the websites of international regulators. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, content may be incomplete or outdated. Some content may have an unofficial translation or may be unavailable in English.
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China
From 16 March 2027, a new standard for nutrition labelling for China (GB 28050-2025) will come into force.
GB 28050-2025: General Rules for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods
This standard is also available in Chinese.
GB 28050-2025: 食品安全国家标准 预包装食品营养标签通则-全国农业食品标准公共服务平台
China has announced a 2-year transition period for the enforcement of the standard, which will replace the current standard for nutrition labelling (GB 28050-2011).
GB28050-2011: Standard for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods [PDF, 2.8 MB]
United States of America (USA)
In the USA, health claims and nutrition content claims for foods are regulated by 2 different agencies:
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA): responsible for most foods, specifically dairy products, fish and fish products, venison, game meat, honey, shell eggs, and further processed products such as freeze-dried products and dietary supplements.
- The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS): responsible for meat and meat products and poultry meat and poultry meat products (including ostrich and emu). They are also responsible for egg products, but not eggs in the shell.
Exporting animal products
Refer to:
- the USA OMAR Part 1.1 General – Application
- all relevant product specific packaging and labelling sections (excluding part 8: Products not intended for human consumption).
US OMAR [PDF, 2.1 MB]
The USDA has a web page that may also be helpful with understanding USDA FSIS labelling requirements.
Exporting non-animal products
For non-animal products covered by the FDA, the requirements are found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), specifically 21 CFR 101.
Code of Federal Regulations – eCFR
The FDA website also has guidance on specialty claims, for products under FDA jurisdiction:
- Nutrition, food labeling, and critical foods
- Use of the term healthy on food labeling
- Label claims for food and dietary supplements
USA food labelling requirements are complex
Exporters should refer to the US OMAR for relevant products and work closely with their importers to ensure they are meeting all labelling requirements for sale of food products in the USA.
Further advice is on the FDA and USDA FSIS websites.
European Union (EU)
The European Union rules on health claims and nutrition content claims are found in Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Regulation No 1924/2006 – European Union
The European Commission website has more information.
Japan
Health claims and nutrition content claims for Japan are regulated by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
An overview of Japan’s regulations for foods and agricultural products, including labelling requirements, is in FAIRS Country Report Annual
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website has more information.
Food with health claims, food for special dietary uses, and nutrition labelling
South Korea
Health claims and nutrition content claims for South Korea are regulated by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS).
For the most up-to-date version of the regulations, you can search using on the MFDS website using this link (available only in Korean):
English translations
For English translations of the regulations, search the Korean Law Information Center (Law Search)
Our suggested search term is "Health Functional Foods Act".
Taiwan
Regulations on health claims and nutrition content claims for Taiwan are on the Laws and Regulations website:
- Health Food Governing Act
- Regulations Governing Determination of the Label, Promotion and Advertisement of Foods and Food Products Identified as False, Exaggerated, Misleading or Having Medical Efficacy
Other information of use may be in the Revised Regulations on Nutrition Claim for Prepackaged Food Products
An overview of Taiwan’s import requirements for food and agricultural products, including labelling requirements, is in the FAIRS Country Report Annual
Indonesia
The Indonesian Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) are the regulatory body for health claims and nutrition content claims for Indonesia.
Malaysia
Health claims and nutrition content claims for Malaysia are regulated by the Ministry of Health.
United Kingdom (UK)
The United Kingdom rules on health claims and nutrition content claims are on the EU website.
Regulation - 1924/2006 – European Union
The GOV.UK website has more information about the rules:
Exemptions from New Zealand requirements
You may not need to meet the New Zealand labelling requirements for health claims and nutrition content claims if you are exporting to a country other than Australia, and your product is intended solely for export.
An exemption may be possible under Section 347 of the Food Act 2014 (NZ Legislation)
To get an exemption, you'll need to apply by sending us the completed form.
Application form: Food Act Section 347 exemption for export [DOCX, 121 KB]
Dairy product exemptions
Generally, all dairy products are exempt from labelling requirements in the Food Standards Code. However, there are specific conditions which must be met for infant formula products and formulated supplementary food for young children.
Details on the exemptions available for dairy products, are in the Animal Products (Exemptions from Labelling Standards for Dairy Product and Dairy Material Intended for Export) Notice 2006 [PDF, 58 KB]
The specific conditions for infant formula products and formulated supplementary food for young children are in the Animal Products Notice: Labelling Requirements for Exports of Dairy Based Infant Formula Products and Formulated Supplementary Food for Young Children 2022 [PDF, 276 KB]
Use a food consultant
You may need some extra help from an independent consultant to make sure you are following all the rules for your business.
Find out about hiring a food consultant
Help for exporters
If you have questions about exporting products with health and nutrition content claims, contact our Exporter Help team. They can also help with general export queries and have guides, webinars, and other resources available.
To get an email whenever the Exporter Help team has a new resource or update to share, subscribe to "Food and fibre exports" in the list of email update topics on our subscription page.
