Australia
A front-of-pack nutrition labelling system was recommended in an independent review into food labelling law and policy completed in 2011. A committee was established to develop the system in collaboration with industry, government and public health professionals. In 2012, the Government consulted stakeholders and conducted extensive research into different labelling systems. One reason the Health Star Rating system was selected is because Australians are already familiar with other star rating systems, such as the energy star system on electrical products. The Health Star Rating system was introduced in 2014.
New Zealand
In 2012, a New Zealand advisory group on front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) was appointed by the Minister for Food Safety. This was chaired by the New Zealand government and included stakeholders from industry, universities, public health and consumer groups. They developed a set of principles to guide the development of a front of pack labelling in New Zealand. In 2014, the group looked at the Australian-developed HSR system. It agreed the system matched their principles. The HSR system was implemented in New Zealand from June 2014.
The Health Star Rating system was jointly funded by the Australian, state and territory governments and New Zealand Government.