New Labelling Guide

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released the Food Labelling Guide in June. It is intended to provide grocery and food manufacturers with information about the laws and actual guidelines on making claims and representations on any food / beverage labels, packages and advertisements.

“It’s essential that food and grocery manufacturers understand their legal obligations to consumers when labelling, packaging and promoting their products. There are some subtle differences between the requirement of the Code (Food Standards Code) and the Act (Trade Practices Act) , so just complying with the Food Standards Code doesn’t mean manufacturers have met the obligations of the Trade Practices Act,” said Kate Carnell, the Australian Food and Grocery Council Chief.

The Guide is only 17 pages long, is simple and easy to understand. Amongst other useful information, it summarises the penalties that are in place for breaches of the Code and Act. The Guide also provides a really useful checklist that manufacturers can use to ensure they do not breach the Act.

Included in the Food Labelling Guide is a simple explanation of the role of the two main agencies involved in food and grocery labelling - the Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the ACCC. This will be a significant help to business in understanding the structure of labelling law development and monitoring.

As there is a potential of penalties of up to $1.1m and related costs if a company breaches the labelling laws, this Guide will be a huge help to food and grocery manufacturers. It can be found at www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/877504