Australian Food Labelling Requirements (FSANZ)

Every packaged food product sold in Australia must carry a compliant label. The Food Standards Code, administered by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), sets out exactly what information is required. Getting it wrong means product recalls, fines and damaged brand reputation. This guide covers the mandatory elements, material considerations and barcode standards your labels need to meet.

Mandatory Label Information (Standard 1.2.1)

FSANZ Standard 1.2.1 defines the minimum information required on all packaged food labels sold in Australia. Every element listed below must appear legibly on your label.

• Product name: a prescribed name where one exists, or a descriptive name that accurately identifies the food.
• Ingredients list: all ingredients listed in descending order by weight. Compound ingredients must have their sub-ingredients declared. Additives are listed by class name and code number (e.g. "Preservative (220)").
• Allergen declarations: allergens must be declared in bold text within the ingredients list or in a separate "Contains" statement. This is a strict liability requirement.
• Nutrition Information Panel (NIP): energy (kJ), protein, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, sugars and sodium. Values must be shown per serving and per 100g or 100mL.
• Use-by or best-before date: "Use By" for foods that may become unsafe after a certain date. "Best Before" for quality-related dating. Foods with a shelf life over two years are exempt from date marking.
• Supplier name and address: the name and street address of the supplier, manufacturer or packer in Australia or New Zealand. A PO Box alone isn't sufficient.
• Country of origin: required under separate legislation (see below).
• Lot identification: a batch or lot code that enables traceability for recalls. This can be a production date, batch number or other unique identifier.

Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL)

The Competition and Consumer Act 2010 requires Country of Origin labels on all food products sold in Australia. The requirements differ based on how the food is produced.

• Grown in Australia: kangaroo-in-triangle logo, bar chart showing percentage of Australian ingredients and a text statement.
• Made in Australia: kangaroo-in-triangle logo with a bar chart. The bar chart must accurately represent the proportion of Australian ingredients by weight.
• Packed in Australia: a text-only statement is permitted. No kangaroo logo required.
• Imported products: must state the country of origin (e.g. "Product of Thailand").

The kangaroo-in-triangle logo has strict size and placement specifications. Minimum logo height is 15mm for most packaging. LabelDepot can supply pre-printed CoOL labels or blank stock for in-house printing to meet these standards.

Allergen Labelling: The Big 9

Australia recognises nine major food allergens that must be declared on labels. Failing to declare an allergen is one of the most common reasons for food recalls in Australia.

1. Peanuts
2. Tree nuts (almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, etc.)
3. Milk
4. Eggs
5. Fish
6. Shellfish (crustaceans and molluscs)
7. Wheat
8. Soy
9. Sesame

Allergens must appear in bold type within the ingredients list. Many manufacturers also include a separate "Contains:" summary and a "May contain:" statement for cross-contamination risks. Lupin and sulphites (at 10mg/kg or more) also require declaration under the Code.

Label Material Requirements

Food labels need to survive their storage environment for the full shelf life of the product. Choosing the wrong material leads to illegible labels, peeling adhesive and compliance failures.

All label materials used near food must be migration-safe. LabelDepot's food-grade label stocks use adhesives tested to ensure no harmful substances transfer into the food product.

Barcode Requirements

Retail food products sold in Australia require a GS1-compliant barcode. GS1 Australia administers the barcode numbering system used by all major retailers.

• EAN-13 (GTIN-13): the standard retail barcode for products sold through supermarkets and retail stores.
• GS1 DataBar: used for variable-weight products, fresh produce and items requiring batch/expiry encoding.
• Quiet zones: a minimum of 11 module widths on each side of the barcode. Insufficient quiet zones cause scan failures at point of sale.
• Minimum bar height: 22.85mm at 100% magnification for EAN-13. Reduced sizes are permitted down to 80% but increase scan failure risk.

Print quality matters. Barcodes should meet ISO 15416 verification standards at ANSI Grade C or above. Poorly printed barcodes result in chargebacks from retailers and rejected deliveries.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Food labelling breaches in Australia carry serious consequences. The ACCC and state food authorities actively enforce labelling standards.

• Infringement notices: up to $13,320 per notice for body corporates under the Competition and Consumer Act.
• Court-imposed penalties: up to $10 million, three times the benefit obtained, or 10% of annual turnover for serious breaches.
• Product recalls: mandatory recalls for mislabelled allergens or incorrect use-by dates. Recall costs typically run from $50,000 to $500,000+.
• Reputational damage: recalls are published on the Food Standards Australia website and widely reported in media.

Getting your labels right the first time is far cheaper than fixing a compliance failure. See our Industry Compliance Guide for labelling standards across other sectors.