STANDARDS & INFORMATION
“Whether you are a farmer, farm supplier, food processor, transporter, marketer or consumer, food safety is your business. There is no food security without food safety”
– Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General José Graziano da Silva.
Ensuring food products in the market are safe is a shared responsibility and not solely the responsibility of regulators. It is important that food businesses demonstrate a high sense of responsibility and accountability to ensure the safety of their products, which in turn, will increase trust in their brand.
Consumers also play a key role as they are the final link in the long food supply chain; from the farm to the fork. Consumers should be alert and aware of safety aspects of the food they buy (e.g. stored correctly in refrigerators or freezers, no dented cans, has not gone pass the sell-by or expiry date etc.), and know how to read and interpret food labels correctly. This awareness can help businesses, regulators and fellow consumers alike by reporting or providing evidential feedback and providing information on any food safety concerns.
In Brunei Darussalam, all food products whether imported or manufactured must comply to the standards set within the Public Health (Food) Act (Chapter 182) and its Regulations (R1, Chapter 182).
The regulation sets out requirements for labelling as well as other conditions on the safety and appropriateness of ingredients in food, to ensure that the final food product is not contaminated with substances that are / may be harmful to health.
The Regulations outline several standards including the following, but not least:
- The maximum levels of preservatives that can be used in certain foods (Schedule 13);
- The maximum amount of heavy metals that are allowed in food (Schedule 15); and
- The maximum limits of microbes allowed to be found on food. (Schedule 16)
BDFA’s mandate is greatly supported by the standards available in the aforesaid regulations. However, where the standard is not specified in the Public Health (Food) Act (Chapter 182) and its Regulations (R1, Chapter 182), then the Codex Alimentarius International Standards shall apply.
FOOD LABELLING
Regulation 9 (1) under the General Provision (Part IV) of the Public Health (Food) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 clearly stipulates that no person shall import, advertise, manufacture, sell, consign or delivery any pre packaged food if the package or any pre packaged food does not bear a label containing all the particulars required by the regulations. This includes the presence of claims that may be misleading in the form of information, pictures or media that will be published, distributed or printed on the product packaging or as advertised to the public.
LANGUAGE
- Language on food labels should be in either standard Malay or English. If the imported food is labelled in languages other than those stated above, then an additional label in mandatory with the necessary translation of the information in either standard Malay or English or both.
- Any labels containing translation in either Malay or English should be correct and depict the same meaning and information as on the original label.
- Any additional labelling should not cover or change the initial information of the packaging in such a way as to mislead the consumer
i.e. Any additional labels should not cover other information such as expiry date or net weight
CLAIMS ON FOOD LABELS & ADVERTISEMENTS
Food products packaging are consciously designed to attract buyers; and the design will likely highlight benefits of the product. These highlights can either be written, pictorial or other descriptions that are attached to or on the packaging or in any of their advertisement, regardless of the mode of promoting (e.g. posters, fliers, leaflets, radio, television, social media etc.). Some food products packaging may also have health claims on them.
Health claims are any representation that states, suggest or implies that a food or an ingredient in that food has a link or relationships with health, e.g. margarine that lowers blood cholesterol.
There are different types of claims used by food manufacturers to gain margins in the market as elucidated below:
Misleading statements
The use of false or misleading statements, word, brand, picture or mark which falsely indicates the nature, stability, quantity, strength, purity, composition, weight, origin, age, effects or proportion of the food. This includes the use of the word “pure”, which should only be reserved for food products that does not contain any other ingredients or substances.
Some examples of misleading claims / statements are:
1. The packaging label for a snack product indicates that the net weight of the product is 140g when in fact the net weight is 120g.
2. A leaflet advertising that a beverage is made from 100% pure fruit juice. However, in reality, the product contains other substances such as preservatives and added sugars.
These claims are NOT allowed to be declared on any food packaging or advertisement.
Reduction of disease risk claims
Such claims are those that states (either in an obvious or subtle manner) that the consumption of a food or any of its constituent(s) can cure or reduce the risk of developing a disease or any health-related conditions.
Some examples includes:
1. Claims that consumption of a food will have therapeutic or prophylactic action;
e.g. “Food X can prevent cancer”.
2. Claims that can be interpreted as medical advice from any person whatsoever;
e.g. “Food X is recommended by Dr. T as it helps to improve eye sight”.
3. Claims that implies a food will prevent, alleviate or cure any disease or condition affecting the human body;
e.g. “Food X is proven to cure diabetes” or “Avoid cancer by eating Food X”
4. Claims that implies health or an improved physical condition can be achieved by consuming any food.
e.g. “Drink beverage X to get brighter, clearer skin”.
Such claims as those examples above are NOT allowed to be declared on any food packaging or advertisement.
If any claim must be made, then it should be presented in such a way that does not confuse consumers who may interpret them as prevention claims.
Examples –
1. “A diet low in substance A may reduce the risk of disease D. Food X is low in substance A.”
2. “A diet rich in nutrient A may reduce the risk of disease D. Food X is high in nutrient A.”