James joins MSAC from Boparan Manufacturing Group, a leading UK food manufacturer, where he served as Technical Director, partnering with major UK retailers on fresh food technical initiatives. His career includes roles at Sainsbury’s Supermarkets as Director of Technical for Fresh Foods, leading fresh food strategies during Brexit and COVID-19; Coles Group as Head of Quality and Responsible Sourcing, driving quality and ethical sourcing programs; and Tesco US’s Fresh & Easy, overseeing technical and innovation. With a Master of Science in Food Science from the University of Bristol, and extensive global experience, James excels in quality assurance, brand management, ESG, and strategic innovation.

“We are thrilled to welcome James Whittaker as our new COO,” said Andy McKie, Managing Director of MSAC. “After ten years of consistent growth and building loyal customers, MSAC is excited for this next season of international expansion. James’s expertise and leadership experience will be instrumental in advancing MSAC’s legacy of excellence with renewed energy, expanded services and a deeper commitment to innovative solutions and mission to being the best global innovation led technical and systems service provider.”

James added “I am excited to join MSAC, and I look forward to driving operational excellence and innovation for our global clients.”

Please join us in welcoming James Whittaker to MSAC as he steps into this pivotal role.

An initial investigation has revealed that all challenged products were tested at the same UK-based laboratory conducting the SPF testing. The TGA’s review identified unreliable testing practices at this facility, prompting further investigation.

Former employees have since raised concerns about questionable manufacturing and testing standards within the facility, citing unethical practices, equipment, and safety requirements. These revelations have deepened scrutiny into the broader sunscreen supply chain.

While the TGA does not directly regulate third-party laboratories, it does oversee sunscreens as therapeutic goods to ensure they provide effective sun protection. The administration has confirmed that investigations are ongoing, particularly as Australia approaches the high UV exposure months of summer.

This situation underscores the critical importance of trust, transparency, and regulatory compliance in the sunscreen market. The TGA has invited affected companies to propose regulatory responses and is considering further laboratory testing, noting persistent challenges in the current SPF testing methodologies.

Australians are encouraged to continue using sunscreen correctly, reapplying as directed, and choosing products with verified SPF claims.

For companies, this serves as a strong reminder of the need for validated testing and accurate product claims. Our regulatory consultants can help ensure your formulations and test results meet compliance standards, giving your business and your customers peace of mind. 

Stay informed as discussions continue around potential reforms to how sunscreens are regulated and tested in Australia.

Consumers are becoming increasingly mindful of their drinking habits, embracing moderation and exploring reduced or zero-alcohol options for health and lifestyle benefits. The global market performance of no and low alcohol wines continues to show strong momentum, reflecting a sustained change in consumer preferences.

As the market evolves, producers need to understand and comply with the regulatory requirements that govern claims such as “low,” “light,” or “zero.” These descriptors must meet the relevant definitions under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

Under Standard 1.2.7, “light” or “low” is considered a comparative claim and must clearly identify the reference product on which the comparison is based and accurately represent the difference. The Code restricts certain claims and uses defined limits, advising that producers avoid using certain expressions that may not comply with requirements.

If choosing to use your true product name of Wine, it must also comply with the standards definition of a ‘wine product’.  As well, to consider the use of additives or processing aids that are not approved under the Wine Production Standard (4.5.1) may also impact your labelling.

There are tight controls around the labelling and identification of alcoholic products in Australia, with the vast compliance and definitions that manufacturers are required to follow.

Don’t get caught up in the mix up and partner with MSAC on the labelling of products to meet all legal standards of your beverages, avoiding costly errors and ensuring your brand builds trust with consumers.

Since launching in 2020, there have been significant improvements in recycling behaviour. The WA Government anticipates that the expansion will continue to help reduce waste to landfill, improve recycling rates and simplify recycling choices for consumers.

From mid-2026, consumers will be able to claim the 10 cent refund on a wider range of beverage containers (150 mL to 3 L), including:

• Glass wine and spirit bottles
• Cask and sachet packaging for wine and water
• Fruit and vegetable juice, flavoured milk, and cordial containers

Plain milk and registered health tonics will remain excluded. The expansion is expected to make around 200 million additional containers eligible each year, including 90 to 130 million glass bottles.

For beverage suppliers, the expansion brings new regulatory and operational responsibilities. Producers of wine and spirits will be required to:

• Register eligible containers under the scheme
• Apply approved refund marks and barcodes to labels
• Contribute to the refund pool through supplier payments

Suppliers will need to ensure compliance ahead of the 2026 start date to avoid supply disruptions. Businesses are encouraged to review labelling, packaging design, and approval processes early to ensure readiness for the expanded scheme.

Our team can help you navigate the compliance process, from assessing packaging eligibility and label review to preparing documentation and supplier submissions.

Contact us for tailored support ahead of the 2026 expansion.

Under the new rules as part of SA’s broader push against single-use plastics, rigid plastic soy sauce containers holding less than 30 mL are prohibited.

These tiny dispensers are considered convenience packaging that are difficult to recycle for the following reasons:

• Their small size and shape make them prone to being washed into drains.
• In kerbside recycling systems, they are usually too small to be captured by sorting machinery, ending up in landfill or plastic pollution.
• They pose risks to wildlife and marine animals.
• They degrade into microplastics that persist in the environment.

This move is a part of SA’s rolling expansion of single-use plastic bans, which have already targeted items such as plastics straws, cutlery, coffee cups and takeaway food containers.

With packaging regulations evolving rapidly across Australia, businesses need to stay ahead of upcoming bans and material restrictions. Our team can review your current packaging portfolio and identify non-compliant items to help your business stay compliant and confident under changing state and national packaging regulations.

The Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia (SPSA), developed after the collapse, is establishing a renewed packaging scheme to collect soft plastics from supermarkets and plastic producers, towards contributing to the effort to fund a recycling supply chain.

SPSA have also begun kerbside recycling trials in nine councils in SA, Victoria and NSW. One close to our local home is the Soft Plastics Acceptance at Anglesea Transfer Station by the Surf Coast Shire. Residents in these councils can drop off clean, soft plastics, including plastic bags, bread bags, chip packets, cling wrap, pet food bags, and squeeze pouches. Since the trial in 2024, a combined 890 kilograms of soft plastics have been collected. 

Experts argue that mandatory recycled-content standards would help drive demand for recycled plastic, making recycling more viable and economically stable. Implementing regulations that take into account a product’s whole lifecycle allows for improved packaging design and functionality.

This is a fantastic opportunity for your brand to demonstrate sustainable packaging material redesign, lighter packaging or recyclable alternatives and compliance with a circular economy and recycled content standards. 

If you’re a business handling packaging (especially soft plastics), now is the time to get ahead. We can help you by:

• Conducting PREP reports that assess your current packaging and emerging regulatory expectations (e.g. design for recyclability, recycled content).
• Packaging compliance assessments to ensure your materials, supply chain, labels, and claims meet both current regulations and those likely to come.
• Reporting your packaging efforts, being able to demonstrate compliance with regulators and customers.

Discuss with us today your current status of recycling and where it can take you.

The states have announced plans to expand their container deposit schemes (CDS) to broaden the range of beverage containers eligible for refund with South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas acknowledging it’s time to take the next step and show the dedication to making sure that they are having a positive environmental impact when they choose to recycle, which is most people, he acknowledged.

The changes are expected to align with the continued positive national efforts, improving consistency across states and providing greater clarity for producers, retailers, and recyclers. This expansion will likely cover additional packaging formats currently outside the 10c refund scope, further supporting recycling rates and reducing litter.

For businesses, this means upcoming adjustments to packaging compliance, labelling, and reporting obligations. Companies operating nationally will particularly benefit from the move towards greater uniformity, but should prepare early for potential changes to product registration, refund marking, and supply chain processes.

We’ll continue monitoring the regulatory details as they develop. If your business needs support with packaging compliance, container deposit registrations, or labelling updates, our team can help you stay compliant and ready for 2027.

This update provides an essential tool for understanding the nutritional profile of foods consumed in Australia today.

AUSNUT (Australian Food, Supplement and Nutrient Database) is a national database that contains detailed information on the nutrient content of thousands of Australian foods, beverages, and dietary supplements. It includes values for macronutrients, micronutrients, and other dietary components.

What’s New?

• Updated food composition data that reflects the current Australian food supply.
• Inclusion of both commonly consumed foods and newer products that reflect changes in the marketplace.
• Expanded detail to support food regulation, labelling, and compliance work.

Our team specialises in helping businesses navigate and apply resources like AUSNUT to support compliance, labelling accuracy, and product development. For businesses working in food regulation, we can support you to use the resource to:

• Support labelling compliance of nutrient declarations
• Benchmark your product’s nutrient profile against similar foods.
• Providing evidence for claims or compliance checks

Whether you need assistance in interpreting the data for nutrition information panels, validating product claims, or aligning with FSANZ requirements, we provide the expertise to ensure your products meet regulatory standards while staying competitive in the market.

The review found that many labels are covered with claims, referring to terms such as “natural,” “no added sugar,” or “supports growth and development,” which may not be fully supported by product formulation or permitted under the Food Standards Code. New research has shown that in the Australian and New Zealand market, there is a need for a reflection of the true nature of the products of whole fruit and vegetables.  

The findings point to a widening gap between marketing practices and regulatory requirements. In particular, nutrient content and health claims are tightly regulated in Australia, and companies making unsupported or misleading statements risk breaching the Australian Consumer Law, as well as standards enforced by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).

For businesses in the infant food sector, this research serves as a timely reminder to carefully review labelling, marketing, and promotional materials to ensure all claims are evidence-based and compliant. Regulatory scrutiny in this space is expected to increase, and proactive compliance measures can help avoid reputational and legal risks.

If you need assistance with claim validation, label reviews, or compliance advice for infant food and broader packaged products, our team can help you navigate the rules with confidence

The energy statement will be mandated and include the below in the prescribed formatted table: