An Overview of Australian Food Labelling Regulations
Australia has a comprehensive system of food labelling regulations designed to protect public health and safety, and to provide consumers with the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions. These regulations cover a wide range of aspects, from ingredient lists and nutrition information to allergen declarations and country of origin labelling. Understanding these regulations is crucial for food manufacturers, importers, and retailers operating in the Australian market. Foodlabel is here to help you navigate this complex landscape.
1. The Role of Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is the bi-national government agency responsible for developing and administering the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code). This Code sets out the standards for food manufacturing and labelling in both countries. FSANZ's primary role is to protect the health and safety of consumers by ensuring that food sold in Australia and New Zealand is safe and suitable for human consumption.
FSANZ develops, varies, and reviews food standards, which are then adopted into state and territory food laws in Australia. This ensures a consistent approach to food regulation across the country. The agency also provides advice to the Australian and New Zealand governments on food-related matters, including risk assessment and risk management.
Key Functions of FSANZ:
Developing and maintaining the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
Assessing the safety of new and emerging food technologies.
Providing advice to governments on food regulation.
Conducting food recalls in response to food safety incidents.
Promoting consumer awareness of food safety issues.
The Food Standards Code is a living document, constantly being updated to reflect new scientific evidence, changing consumer preferences, and emerging food safety risks. Food businesses are responsible for staying up-to-date with the latest changes to the Code and ensuring that their products comply with all applicable standards.
2. Mandatory Labelling Requirements
The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code specifies a range of mandatory labelling requirements that apply to most packaged foods sold in Australia. These requirements are designed to provide consumers with essential information about the food they are purchasing. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in penalties.
Core Mandatory Information:
Name of the food: A clear and accurate description of what the product is.
Ingredient list: Ingredients must be listed in descending order by weight. This allows consumers to see what the main components of the food are.
Nutrition Information Panel (NIP): Provides information on the energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, sugar, and sodium content of the food. This helps consumers make informed choices about their diet.
Date marking: Either a 'best before' or 'use by' date, indicating the shelf life of the product. 'Use by' dates are required for foods that may pose a health risk if consumed after that date.
Name and address of the manufacturer or supplier: Allows consumers to contact the manufacturer or supplier if they have any questions or concerns about the product.
Lot identification: Enables traceability of the product in case of a recall.
Country of origin labelling: Indicates where the food was grown, produced, made, or packed. More detail on this is provided below.
Warning statements: Required for certain foods that may pose a health risk to specific individuals, such as foods containing allergens.
Weight or volume of the product: Indicates the quantity of food in the package.
These mandatory requirements are designed to be easily accessible and understandable for consumers. The information must be presented clearly and legibly on the label. Learn more about Foodlabel and how we can help you ensure your labels meet these requirements.
3. Allergen Labelling
Allergen labelling is a critical aspect of food safety in Australia. The Food Standards Code requires that certain allergens be declared on food labels to protect individuals with food allergies. These allergens are known to cause severe reactions in susceptible individuals.
Key Allergens that Must Be Declared:
Crustacea
Eggs
Fish
Milk
Peanuts
Sesame seeds
Soybeans
Tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, cashews)
Gluten-containing cereals (wheat, rye, barley, oats)
Lupin
Sulphites (in concentrations of 10mg/kg or more)
The allergen must be declared using the prescribed name (e.g., 'egg', not 'albumin'). The declaration must be clear and prominent on the label. In addition to declaring the presence of allergens as ingredients, manufacturers must also declare if an allergen is present as a processing aid or if there is a risk of cross-contamination. This is often done using a 'may contain' statement (e.g., 'may contain traces of peanuts').
Proper allergen management is crucial for food businesses. This includes implementing procedures to prevent cross-contamination during manufacturing, training staff on allergen awareness, and ensuring accurate labelling. Failure to properly declare allergens can have serious consequences for consumers with food allergies.
4. Country of Origin Labelling
Country of origin labelling (CoOL) provides consumers with information about where their food comes from. In Australia, CoOL is regulated by the Australian Consumer Law and the Food Standards Code. The current CoOL system aims to provide clearer and more meaningful information to consumers.
The CoOL requirements vary depending on the type of food. For most packaged foods, the label must include a statement indicating where the food was grown, produced, made, or packed. The label must also include a country of origin symbol, which is a kangaroo inside a triangle, and a bar chart indicating the proportion of Australian ingredients in the product. This helps consumers easily identify products that are made in Australia.
For unpackaged foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, retailers are required to display country of origin information at the point of sale. This can be done through signage or labelling.
The CoOL system is designed to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions based on their preferences for locally produced or imported foods. It also supports Australian farmers and producers by promoting their products.
5. Nutrition and Health Claims
Nutrition and health claims on food labels are regulated to ensure that they are truthful, accurate, and not misleading. These claims can be a powerful marketing tool, but they must comply with the requirements of the Food Standards Code.
Types of Claims:
Nutrition content claims: Statements about the level of a nutrient in a food (e.g., 'low fat', 'high in fibre'). These claims must meet specific criteria set out in the Code.
Health claims: Statements about the relationship between a food or a nutrient and a health effect (e.g., 'calcium helps build strong bones'). Health claims are divided into two categories: general level health claims and high level health claims.
General level health claims can be made if they are based on a food-health relationship that has been substantiated by scientific evidence. High level health claims require pre-approval from FSANZ and must be based on a significant scientific consensus.
It is illegal to make false or misleading claims about the nutritional or health benefits of a food. Food businesses must ensure that any claims they make are supported by evidence and comply with the requirements of the Code. Our services can help you navigate the complexities of nutrition and health claims.
6. Enforcement and Compliance
Enforcement of food labelling regulations in Australia is primarily the responsibility of state and territory food authorities. These authorities conduct inspections of food businesses, investigate complaints, and take enforcement action against businesses that are found to be in breach of the Food Standards Code.
Enforcement Actions May Include:
Warning letters
Infringement notices (fines)
Prosecutions
- Food recalls
Consumers can also play a role in ensuring compliance with food labelling regulations by reporting any concerns they have about food labels to their local food authority. Food businesses have a responsibility to ensure that their products comply with all applicable labelling requirements. This includes staying up-to-date with the latest changes to the Food Standards Code, implementing robust labelling procedures, and training staff on food labelling requirements.
Compliance with food labelling regulations is essential for protecting public health and safety, providing consumers with the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions, and maintaining the integrity of the Australian food supply. If you have any frequently asked questions about food labelling, we're here to help.