
Is your business prepared for the food product labeling changes?
Time is running out for businesses unprepared for strict new food labelling laws, with an industry expert warning many are at risk of being slapped with fines of more than $1 million for non-compliance.
“Any recall or disposal of non-compliant goods may run from the thousands to the millions of dollars, so it’s important to get it right,” Task by Kirk design firm General Manager, John Kapiniaris said.
From next July, food made, grown or produced in Australia will feature the image of a kangaroo in a triangle and a bar chart that shows the proportion of Australian ingredients. Food packed in Australia will show the proportion of Australian ingredients, and labels on food imported into Australia will be easier to find.
What do the new labels mean for your business?
The laws mean:
Food products sold in Australian supermarkets and other retail outlets must display a label which clearly identifies where the food comes from.
Labels on most foods grown, produced or made in Australia need to feature the symbol of a kangaroo in a triangle and indicate the percentage of ingredients that are Australian.
Requirements for using claims like ‘Product of’, ‘Made in’ and ‘Packed in’ have been made clearer.
Penalties if laws are not complied with:
Corporations who fail to comply with the Country of Origin Food Labelling Information Standard 2016 face penalties of up to $1.1 million, while individuals can be fined up to $220,000.
Resources to help you get it right:
There are plenty of tools and information available to help you understand and use the new labels correctly.
To help you get it right, you can:
use the Country of Origin Labelling online tool to help you work out if you need a new label and customise your label
access the resources available on the Country of Origin food Labelling page including the Style Guide
go to the Country of Origin Label library to download labels for your food products
watch the Country of Origin food Labelling tips and traps webinar series from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Don’t worry. We have you covered!
Reach out because the team at Viking Food Solutions is ready to set your business up ensuring production powers year on year!
As part of our Food Packaging design service, our team are now equipped with information regarding the new laws, relieving your business of the burden so you can keep on doing the amazing work you do best!
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