What Are the Legal Requirements for Food Labelling in Australia?

Have you wondered, “What are the legal requirements for food labelling in Australia?” Many new and established food businesses ask the same question when designing their food labels. Food labelling is an important practice in the food industry, as it provides consumers with essential information about the products they purchase and consume.

In Australia, strict laws and regulations govern food labelling to ensure the safety and accuracy of information for consumers. In this blog, we will take a closer look at these requirements and explain how a food business can ensure label compliance.

What Do Australian Food Labelling Laws Cover and Why Are They Important?

Food labelling in Australia is regulated by the Food Standards Code, which sets requirements for mandatory label information such as ingredients, allergen declarations, date marks, and nutrition information. Labels must be legible, prominent, in English, and they must display any mandatory warnings or advisory statements that apply to the product.

Importance of Food Labelling

Food labelling is not only important for businesses to comply with legal requirements, but it is also an important tool for providing consumers with the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions. Here are some reasons why food labelling is essential:

• Transparency: Food labelling provides information on ingredients, nutritional content, and allergens. This allows consumers to make informed decisions about the food they purchase and avoid any potential health risks.
• Dietary Restrictions: With an increasing number of people following specialised diets, food labelling plays an important role in helping them identify suitable options. Labels that clearly state whether a product is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and so on can save consumers time and effort in looking this information up themselves.
• Health Awareness: Nutrition information on food labels helps consumers become more aware of their dietary intake and make healthier choices. By providing details such as calorie content, fat and sugar levels, and vitamin and mineral information, food labels can help individuals manage their daily nutrition needs.
• Sustainability: In recent years, there has been growing concern about sustainability in food production. Food labels that specify where ingredients were sourced from and whether they were sustainably produced can help consumers make more environmentally friendly choices.

Information To Include on Food Labels: What Are the Legal Requirements?

Meeting compliance standards means including several mandatory details on your packaging. While the exact requirements can vary depending on the specific food product, most packaged foods share the same basic labelling requirements.

A compliant food label generally needs to include the following details:

• An accurate food name or description that reflects what the product actually is.
• A comprehensive ingredient list, ordered by weight.
• Mandatory allergen declarations to warn consumers with food sensitivities.
• A nutritional information panel outlining energy, fat, protein, and carbohydrate levels.
• Specific storage or preparation directions, if needed to ensure the food is safe for consumption.
• Lot identification and supplier details to assist with potential product recalls.

Labels must also comply with Australian Consumer Law and food labelling rules, which prohibit false or misleading claims. According to the ACCC, businesses must not mislead consumers. For example, if a product is called “strawberry yoghurt” but only uses strawberry flavouring rather than real strawberries, the label should say “strawberry-flavoured yoghurt”. Misleading labels can expose a business to significant penalties.

How Do Use-By and Best-Before Date Marks Differ?

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code requires many packaged foods to display a date mark. The two main types of date marks serve different purposes.

Use-by dates focus on food safety. Foods with a use-by date should not be eaten or sold after that date, as they may pose a health risk. Foods that need to be eaten within a certain time for safety reasons, such as some chilled ready-to-eat foods, are typically given a use-by date.

Best-before dates relate to food quality. After this date, food may no longer be at its best, but it can still be safe to eat. Food with a best-before date can legally be sold after that date, provided it is still fit for human consumption.

Some foods do not need a date label. Foods with a shelf life of two years or more, such as some canned goods, do not need a best-before date. If specific storage conditions are needed to keep the food safe or suitable for consumption until the date mark, those instructions must also appear on the label.

When managing inventory and printing expiry date labels, businesses should use the correct terminology. Using accurate use-by labels or best-before labels helps retailers manage stock properly and helps customers understand how to store and use the product safely at home.

How Can a Food Business Ensure Label Compliance?

A business can stay compliant by identifying the product’s specific food type, confirming which parts of the Food Standards Code apply to that category, and carefully reviewing the final label design.

To maintain compliance over time, businesses should:

• Check the product’s category first to see if specific standards apply. The Food Standards Code includes general requirements for all foods and additional requirements for certain product types.

• Confirm that all required label elements are present and legible. Treat legibility and truth-in-labelling as part of food labelling compliance.

• Review allergen wording carefully to ensure no required declarations are missed. Include plain-English allergen declarations and a “contains” summary statement for relevant allergens.

• Make sure the date mark uses the correct “use-by” or “best-before” phrasing. Use-by dates are for safety, while best-before dates relate to quality.

• Whenever a business changes a recipe, switches to a new supplier, or alters the product’s shelf life, the label should be reviewed and updated before the altered product is sold.

Key Takeaway

So, what are the legal requirements for food labelling in Australia? Businesses should  always ensure that every product label is accurate, easy to read, and contains all required information.

By using clear date marks and accurate origin claims, food businesses can help protect consumers and reduce the risk of compliance issues. Review your current product packaging against the relevant requirements of the Food Standards Code, update any outdated information, and keep supporting records organised to help maintain compliance.