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Selling food in Australia

In Australia, food must comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, developed by FSANZ and enforced by the states and territories. Labels follow Chapter 1 of the Code; most retail food also carries a country of origin label under the Australian Consumer Law. Imported food is checked at the border under the Imported Food Control Act 1992.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Main rules
The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code
Who writes them
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
Who enforces
State and territory agencies and local councils; DAFF at the border
Label language
English; another language must not contradict it
Country of origin
Country of Origin Food Labelling Information Standard 2016
Recalls
Coordinated by FSANZ with the state or territory agency

Before a product goes on sale

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Is any ingredient a novel food, or an additive not permitted for that food? Read more
  2. 2What has to be on the label, and how are allergens declared? Read more
  3. 3Can the nutrition or health claims you want to make be made? Read more
  4. 4Which country of origin label applies? Read more
  5. 5Which contaminant limits apply, and is the packaging fit for food? Read more
  6. 6Is it imported, and is it risk food or surveillance food at the border? Read more
  7. 7Is there a written recall plan, and has the business notified its local agency? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Labelling, allergens and claims

What a packaged food label has to show under Chapter 1 of the Code, how allergens are declared, and which claims a label may carry.

  • Food for retail sale in a package bears a label with, among other things, the name of the food, lot identification, the supplier's name and address, warning and advisory statements and declarations, a statement of ingredients, date marking, storage conditions and directions for use, and nutrition information (section 1.2.1—8).
  • The supplier's name and address is a business address in Australia or New Zealand (section 1.2.2—4).
  • Words required by the Code must be in English, legible and prominent; any other language on the label must not negate or contradict the English (section 1.2.1—24). Warning statements are at least 3 mm high, or 1.5 mm on a small package.
  • Since 25 February 2024, allergens are declared by required names (such as wheat, milk, egg, peanut, soy, sesame, fish, crustacean, mollusc, lupin and each tree nut) in bold in the ingredients list, and in a separate summary statement beginning 'Contains'.
  • Ingredients are listed in descending order by ingoing weight, and most packaged foods show the percentage of their characterising ingredients.
  • Health claims must rest on food-health relationships substantiated under Standard 1.2.7. A business that self-substantiates a relationship notifies FSANZ before using the claim.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your label artwork against the particulars in Standard 1.2.1 and the allergen names in Schedule 9, and shows what is missing, with the section beside each. Ask about this

Novel foods and additives

What may go into a food for retail sale at all.

  • A novel food cannot be sold, or be an ingredient in food for retail sale, unless it is listed in the table to section S25—2 of the Code, with any conditions of use.
  • Anyone wanting to sell a novel food applies to FSANZ to amend the Code; the application includes a pre-market safety assessment.
  • A substance may be used as a food additive only if Schedule 15 permits it for that food, within any restrictions and maximum levels (section 1.3.1—3).
  • Food additives in most packaged food are listed in the statement of ingredients by class name followed by the additive's name or number.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your recipe and specifications against the permitted lists, and keeps the evidence for each ingredient with the product. Ask about this

Country of origin labelling

Where the food comes from, set by an information standard under the Australian Consumer Law, not by the Food Standards Code.

  • Country of origin labelling for food has been mandatory since 1 July 2018, under the Country of Origin Food Labelling Information Standard 2016 made under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
  • Most food grown, produced, made or packaged in Australia carries a standard mark: a country of origin statement and a bar chart showing the proportion of Australian ingredients by ingoing weight, with a kangaroo logo where the food is from Australia.
  • For most imported food, the country of origin statement is in a clearly defined box.
  • For non-priority foods (seasonings, confectionery, biscuits and snack food, bottled water, soft drinks and sports drinks, tea and coffee, and alcoholic beverages) the standard marks and the box are voluntary.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the ingredient origin records behind your origin statement and bar chart with each product and lot. Ask about this

Contaminants and packaging

Maximum levels for contaminants and natural toxicants, and packaging fit for food.

  • The level of a contaminant or natural toxicant listed in Schedule 19 must not exceed the amount listed for that food (section 1.4.1—3). Schedule 19 covers metals, non-metal contaminants, natural toxicants and mercury in fish.
  • Under Standard 3.2.2, food businesses use only packaging that is fit for its intended purpose and not likely to cause food contamination.

How we help: Upload a lab report and Compliant Always reads it line by line against the Schedule 19 limits that apply, with the source beside each one. Ask about this

Imported food

How food from overseas is checked at the border, and what goes on its trade description.

  • Food imported for sale must comply with the Code and with biosecurity requirements; importers are responsible for ensuring it does.
  • Importing food that does not meet applicable standards, or that poses a risk to human health, is an offence under section 8 of the Imported Food Control Act 1992.
  • Under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme, 100% of risk food consignments are referred for inspection, and 5% of surveillance food consignments.
  • Some risk foods, such as beef, raw milk cheese and bivalve molluscs, must be covered by a recognised foreign government certificate.
  • The owner of imported food at importation keeps the records the Secretary determines for 5 years.
  • Imported food carries an English trade description with its country of origin; for prepacked priority food the statement is in a clearly defined text box.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the certificates and records a consignment needs with the product and lot, and shows what expires before the next one ships. Ask about this

Food business duties and recalls

Notification, traceability and recall plans under Chapter 3 of the Code.

  • A business starting, or changing its name, location or activities, notifies its local food regulatory agency (Standard 3.2.2).
  • Food manufacturers, wholesale suppliers and importers have a written recall plan, use it when needed, and show it to an authorised officer on request.
  • FSANZ coordinates food recalls in Australia but cannot order one; the states and territories hold that power. A business recalling food notifies its home state agency and the FSANZ Recall Team.
  • Businesses should know where food comes from and where it goes: supplier and customer details, dates, batch or lot numbers and quantities.

How we help: Compliant Always ties each document to the lot and the supplier it came from, so the details a recall plan asks for are on record. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
Supplier named on the labelThe label, with a business address in Australia or New Zealand.The label read against the Code, with the paperwork behind each particular.
ManufacturerComposition, contaminants, traceability and a written recall plan.Specifications, test reports and certificates kept with each product and lot.
ImporterFood that meets the Code and biosecurity rules, records kept for 5 years, and a recall plan.Overseas suppliers' documents read and dated before the goods arrive.
Packaging supplierPackaging fit for its purpose and not likely to contaminate food.Suppliers' declarations collected once and shown to each customer that asks.

States and territories

Food standards are developed by FSANZ and adopted without variation by the states and territories, whose agencies and local councils enforce the Food Standards Code. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry enforces it at the border.

The Australian Consumer Law is enforced by the ACCC for widespread issues and by state and territory consumer protection agencies, which handle individual complaints.

Shipping out of Australia?

Exporting food from Australia

Questions businesses ask

Who sets food standards in Australia?
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) develops the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. States and territories adopt the standards without variation, and their agencies and local councils enforce them. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry enforces the Code at the border.
What must a packaged food label show in Australia?
Under section 1.2.1—8 of the Code: the name of the food, lot identification, the supplier's name and Australian or New Zealand address, warning and advisory statements, ingredients, date marking, storage and directions for use, nutrition information and characterising ingredients, plus extra items for some foods.
Does a food label have to be in English in Australia?
Yes. Words the Code requires must be in English, legible and prominent. Another language may also appear, but it must not negate or contradict the English (section 1.2.1—24).
How must allergens be declared on Australian food labels?
By required names, in bold in the ingredients list, and in a separate bold summary statement starting with 'Contains' next to the ingredients. Each tree nut, mollusc and gluten cereal is named separately; sulphites are declared at 10 mg/kg or more.
Is precautionary 'may contain' labelling required?
No. Voluntary precautionary allergen statements such as 'may contain' are not regulated by the Food Standards Code, according to FSANZ.
Does food sold in Australia need a country of origin label?
Most retail food does, under the Country of Origin Food Labelling Information Standard 2016. Australian food usually carries a standard mark with a bar chart; most imported food shows its origin in a clearly defined box. Some non-priority foods are exempt from those formats.
Do I need approval to sell a novel food in Australia?
Yes. A novel food must be listed, with its conditions of use, in the table to section S25—2 of the Code. That takes an application to FSANZ, which includes a pre-market safety assessment.
Is the Health Star Rating mandatory?
No. FSANZ describes the Health Star Rating as a voluntary front-of-pack labelling system, rating packaged food from half a star to 5 stars.
How is imported food checked in Australia?
Through the Imported Food Inspection Scheme run by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Risk food is referred for inspection on every consignment at first; 5% of surveillance food consignments are referred. Some risk foods also need a recognised foreign government certificate.
Does a food business need a recall plan in Australia?
Food manufacturers, wholesale suppliers and importers must have a written recall plan under Standard 3.2.2, and show it to an authorised officer if asked.
Who orders a food recall in Australia?
Most recalls are started by the business. FSANZ coordinates recalls but has no enforcement powers; states and territories can mandate one. A business notifies its home state agency and the FSANZ Recall Team.
How does Compliant Always help with selling in Australia?
Our team reads the rules for the markets you sell in, including the Commonwealth, state and territory layers in Australia. Compliant Always shows which apply to your product and keeps the documents behind each one ready. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

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