Australia’s food ministers have voted to begin the process of making the Health Star Rating (HSR) system mandatory on eligible packaged foods, after new monitoring showed the voluntary scheme fell well short of its agreed uptake target and has struggled to build consistent consumer confidence.
In its communiqué issued after the Food Ministers’ Meeting on 13 February 2026, ministers noted the HSR Monitoring Report for Year 5 (2025), found the final target – 70 per cent of intended products displaying HSR by November 2025 – had not been met, with uptake at 39 per cent in Australia and 36 per cent in New Zealand.
Ministers said the low uptake has limited the system’s effectiveness and “undermined consumer trust”.
From voluntary to mandate: a decade-long arc
The HSR was introduced in 2014, as a front-of-pack interpretive label designed to help shoppers compare the overall nutritional profile of packaged foods at a glance.
Over time, public health advocates have argued the voluntary design allowed selective use, i.e. more likely to appear on higher-scoring products, reducing its value as a consistent decision tool across the supermarket aisle.
The trigger point for stronger regulation was built into the system’s governance. Food ministers had previously set staged uptake targets culminating in a 70 per cent target by 14 November 2025 and signalled that mandating would be on the table if industry failed to reach the benchmark.
The 2025–26 decision follows that pathway, moving the scheme from policy intent to standards development.
What ministers decided
By majority, ministers agreed to request Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) prepare a proposal to mandate HSR in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, noting FSANZ preparatory work indicated no regulatory barriers, subject to statutory requirements.
FSANZ will now undertake two rounds of public consultation before reporting back to ministers for a final decision.
Ministers also agreed to publish the HSR Uptake Report and the HSR Consumer Research Report on the HSR website to support transparency and confidence.
Ministers pointed to consumer research showing strong support for HSR, but persistent misunderstandings, particularly that the system is intended for comparing similar products, not judging across categories.
Industry response: timeline and practicality
The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) said it “acknowledges the outcomes” and noted it has been closely involved in the HSR’s development, maintaining that the scheme is “one of several tools that can help consumers make informed choices.”
AFGC, the council said, wants “genuine consultation with industry” and a “practical and realistic implementation timeline,” warning mandating HSR would have “significant operational, labelling and supply chain implications” for manufacturers and will require careful planning.
For brand owners, a mandated scheme would mean HSR becomes a packaging standard rather than an opt-in marketing asset—triggering artwork changes, print run coordination, SKU rationalisation considerations, and lead-time pressures across complex supplier networks.
Dietitians: support, but keep improving
Nutrition advocates and dietitians have generally backed mandatory front-of-pack labelling as a practical “at-a-glance” tool.
In comments tied to research on how HSR could better recognise plain nuts, dietician Jemma O’Haluable said it was a valuable tool that helps Australians make “quick, informed choices in the supermarket”, arguing that “a few simple tweaks” could ensure some whole foods are better recognised for their benefits.
Nutrition Information Panel: no immediate change, “added sugars” not mandated
Ministers also considered FSANZ’s holistic review of the Nutrition Information Panel (NIP) and concluded regulatory changes are not required at this time, given the move toward mandatory HSR.
The review found the NIP continues to meet its purpose of providing consistent and meaningful nutrition information while balancing consumer needs, international alignment and industry practicality.
Ministers noted there was no clear benefit to mandating “added sugars” labelling and asked the Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC) to consider how sugars information could be better provided, in line with updated dietary guidelines when available.
What happens next
FSANZ’s consultations will shape the design of any mandatory model, covering scope (which product categories are included), transition timeframes, presentation rules, enforcement, and the interaction between HSR and existing back-of-pack requirements.
Ministers will next meet in May 2026, with HSR mandating now a live standards-development process rather than a policy debate.
Previous coverage
FSANZ calls for input on HSR, NIP reviews: Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for submissions as part of its review of the Health Start Rating (HSR) and Nutrition Information Panel (NIP) systems.
FSANZ ramps up labelling reformation prep: Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is preparing to put nutrition and alcohol labelling reformation plans into action, as Australian and New Zealand food ministers recently agreed to scoping work by the organisation.
Report on HSR and ultra-processed foods: The National Health and Medical Research Council has funded a research study that reduces high Health Star Rating’s on ‘unhealthy’ foods, by factoring in ultra-processing.
