. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/NZL/18 
23 March 2004  
 
(04-1305) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English 
   
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   NEW ZEALAND
 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:    
Food Standards Aust ralia New Zealand 
PO Box 10559 
Wellington 6036 
NEW ZEALAND Fax:  + 64 4 473 9855 E-mail:  info@foodstandards.govt.nz
 
 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be  indicated if different from above:         
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:         
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable):   Liqueurs and products 
fitting the current definition of liqueur in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code  
(the Code). 
All Countries.  Importe d (as well as domestically produced ) foods sold in New Zealand. 
5. Title, number of pages and langu age(s) of the notified document:   Draft Assessment for 
Proposal P271 – Liqueur Definition (32 pages, in English). 
6. Description of content:   Proposal P271– Liqueur Definition seeks to clarify the original 
intent of the Code’s definition of liqueur.  Sp ecifically it intends to exclude ready-to-drink 
mixes of spirits and soft drinks (RTDs) from the current definition.  Many RTDs made in 
Australia and New Zealand claim the exemption to nutrition information labelling and 
percentage labelling that applies to liqueurs. 
 The proposed change to the current liqueur definition is to specify a minimum 
alcohol content for liqueurs of 15 per cent al cohol by volume.  The proposed change will 
not result in any changes to the way "traditiona l" liqueurs are regulated in New Zealand but 
will provide clarification to manufacturers and enforcement agencies as to which products 
should be categorised as liqueurs.  That is, RTDs may no longer be classified as liqueurs. G/TBT/N/NZL/18 
Page 2  
 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:   If 
the proposed amendment to the liqueur defin ition were to be accepted, then imported RTDs, 
as well as those produced domestically, would require ingredient, percentage and nutrition 
information labelling.  These changes would come into effect twelve months after the date of gazettal. 
 All proposals to change the Code, must be  assessed in the context of the following 
objectives:  (a) the protection of public health  and safety;  (b) the provision of adequate 
information relating to food to enable consumers to make informed choices;  and (c) the 
prevention of misleading or deceptive conduct. 
8. Relevant documents:   Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code  (English). 
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Notification to Government anticipated September 2004 with 
adoption (gazettal) to follow, pending Government consideration. 
Proposed date of entry into force:  Twelve months after gazettal pending Government 
consideration. 
10. Final date for comments:   9 May 2004 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses,  if available of the other body:  Documents are 
available from the Food Standards Australia New Ze aland website: 
www.foodstandards.gov.au/standardsdevelopment .   
 