Food labels are required on foods for sale that are in
a package.
There are some exemptions to this such as foods made and packaged onsite, foods packaged in front of the purchaser and fundraisers by not-for-profit organisations.
Everything said about food on the label is subject to Australian Consumer Law, which prohibits false, misleading or deceptive representations.
Full details on why and how to label food is available in our comprehensive document Food Labelling Requirements for Food Businesses.
Food labels can provide a wide range of information to help consumers make food choices. They must be in English, legible and easy to read.
Food labels also help to protect the public by displaying information such as use-by dates, ingredients, certain allergens, instructions for storage and preparation, as well as advisory and warning statements.
In Australia, food manufacturers must ensure that food labels conform to the national Food Standards Code Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ).
Other laws also apply including Australian Consumer Law, National Trade Measurement Regulations 2009 and Commerce (Trade Descriptions) Act.
All food labels must contain the following information:
- name and/or description of the food
- identification of the ‘Batch’ number
- name and Australian street address of the supplier of food
- list of ingredients
- date mark
- nutrition information panel (NIP) - some exemptions apply
- country of origin of the food
- warning and advisory statements, this includes allergen identification as required by FSANZ.
If you are a food business our Environmental Health Officers will work with you to ensure the food you label meets the requirements.