Country of Origin Food Labelling Information Standard 2016 Is your business prepared for the food product labelling changes? 1
What has Changed? The Country of Origin Food Labelling Information Standard 2016 commenced on 1 July 2016 providing a two-year transition period to allow businesses time to adjust to the new labelling requirements It requires most food suitable for retail sale in Australia to carry country of origin information This means food products packaged and labelled up to 30 June 2018 can be sold without the new labels Food labelled from 1 July 2018 must follow the new rules 2
Q: Do I need to display a country of origin label on my food product? Is the food required to carry a label? You are not required to comply with the Standard The Standard applies to most food offered for retail sale in Australia (e.g. food sold to the public in stores or markets, online or from vending machines) if it is: in a package or unpackaged seafood, particular meats*, fruit and vegetables, nuts, spices, herbs, fungi, legumes, seeds or a mix of these foods *Meats = Chicken, pork, beef, veal, lamb, hogget & mutton Includes raw food items as well as food that has been cooked, marinated, cut, filleted, sliced, minced, diced, pickled, cured, dried, smoked, frozen or preserved by any other means 3
Q: How do I know if my food product is a priority or non-priority food? Is the food required to carry a label? You are not required to comply with the Standard Is it a priority food? Non-priority foods need a text statement of origin E.g. Product of Australia A food will be a priority food item unless it belongs to one of the following non-priority food categories: Seasoning (e.g. salt, spices and herbs but excluding mustards, sauces and chutneys) Confectionery (e.g. chocolate, lollies, ice cream, popcorn but excluding sugar and sugar mixes, jams, honey and other spreads) Tea and coffee (in dry, or ready to drink, form) Biscuits and snack foods (e.g. chips, crackers and ready to eat savoury snacks but excluding cakes, muesli bars, processed nuts and nut mixtures) Bottled water Soft drinks & sports drinks (excluding non-carbonated fruit or vegetable drinks, milk and milk substitute drinks) Alcoholic beverages 4
Grown, Produced & Made in Labelling Requirements for Priority Foods Is the food required to carry a label? You are not required to comply with the Standard Is it a priority food? Non-priority foods need a text statement of origin Was the priority food grown, produced or made in Australia? Must label with a 3 component standard mark Kangaroo logo, Bar chart and Explanatory statement in a defined box 5
Grown in or Produced in Must contain ALL Australian ingredients 6
Labelling Requirements Continued Unpackaged Foods (that require a country of origin label) Label can be displayed either on, or close to, the product E.g. shelf talker, hanging sign or display card Fresh Fruit & Vegetables in transparent packaging E.g. plastic wrap, netting or citrus bags May be regarded as packaged or unpackaged foods for the purpose of where to display the country of origin label 7
Labelling Requirements Made In examples 8
Packed in Labelling Requirements for Priority Foods Is the food required to carry a label? You are not required to comply with the Standard Is it a priority food? Non-priority foods need a text statement of origin Was the priority food grown, produced or made in Australia? Must label with a 3 component standard mark Bar chart and Was the priority food packed Australia? Must label with a 2 component standard mark Explanatory statement in a defined box 9
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Imported Priority Foods Labelling Requirements Is the food required to carry a label? You are not required to comply with the Standard Is it a priority food? Non-priority foods need a text statement of origin Was the priority food grown, produced or made in Australia? Must label with a 3 component standard mark Was the priority food packed Australia? Must label with a 2 component standard mark Was the priority food imported into Australia? Minimum must have text statement of origin in a clearly defined box 11
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Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) www.accc.gov.au/cool Small business helpline 1300 302 021 Contacts Small Business & Industry Codes Kylie Johnson Tel: 03 9658 6520 kylie.johnson@accc.gov.au Emma Robinson Tel: 03 9658 6498 emma.robinson@accc.gov.au
Disclaimer The material presented to you today should be considered only general advice and guidance. It is not legal advice. Businesses remain responsible for determining whether their labels comply with the new requirements 14