Food labelling and allergens - Australian Food & Grocery Council

Requirements for labelling of food are set out in the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code. These standards are enforced by the Australian states and territories and, in New Zealand, by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). Below is a list of additional guidance and resources to assist industry meet these, and other regulatory requirements.

Allergen labelling

Australian food manufacturers take allergen labelling seriously.

The Food Industry Guide to Allergen Management and Labelling (FIGAML) has been jointly developed and published by the AFGC and Allergen Bureau.

It offers guidance in managing allergens. It is relevant to those involved in the supply, handling, production, import and sale of foods.

Get additional allergen labelling and management resources from:

AFGC works closely with:

Date marking

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code requires that a date mark be present on packaged food where the shelf life of the food is less than 2 years. These requirements apply to both locally made and imported products.

Use the AFGC guide, which was developed in consultation with food manufacturers and retailers, to decide whether packaged food should be labelled with a best-before or use-by date.

Download the Best Practice Guide to Date Marking [PDF 330 kb].

Other labelling requirements

In addition to the Food Standards Code, there are other regulations for product labelling, including:

Packaging disposal labelling

The Australasian Recycling Label communicates the correct disposal of packaging. The label is administered by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO).