What is a country of origin statement?
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) ensures businesses comply with certain requirements when packaging foods. One of these requirements is having a country of origin text statement on labels. Both priority and non-priority food require this statement. Each priority level has their own requirements, but all of them do require this statement. Furthermore, there is no need to label certain foods. This includes food such as pet food or catering items.
What are the requirements?
There are different requirements for different types of foods. Before determining what type of label is suitable for your business, consult the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s guide for Country of Origin Food Labelling.
Priority foods “grown, produced or made” in Australia
There are 3 requirements for priority foods that have been “grown, produced or made” in Australia. The ACCC states these requirements as below:
- There must be a logo that consists of a kangaroo within a triangle. This is to ensure that those purchasing the product can visually see the product is Australian
- A bar chart that shows the amount of ingredients used that are Australian
- A country of origin statement stating “grown, produced or made in Australia”. If a product says “Made in Australia” it must follow with the % amount of ingredients from Australia used to make the product.
In addition, for more information on the legal requirements regarding product labels stating “Made in Australia” click here.
Packed priority foods or imported foods
For other priority foods packed in Australia or imported food items, there are 2 requirements:
- A bar chart that shows the amount of ingredients used that are Australian
- A country of origin statement stating it was “Packed in Australia”. Additionally, it must follow with the % amount of ingredients from Australia used to make the product.
Non-priority or imported foods
Lastly, there is only one requirement for non-priority or imported food items that are considered to be a priority. For both, there must be a country of origin statement. This is a simple statement saying “Made in X Country”. For imported food items that are a priority, this statement MUST be within the perimeters of a box. Section 9 of Country of Origin Food Labelling Information Standard 2016 states non-priority food items.
There is also a country of origin labelling tool available online. Additionally, read our guide on what information is required for food packaging.
Which standard regulates this?
The Country of Origin Food Labelling Information Standard 2016 regulates and states the requirements needed for food sold in Australia. The requirements stated above as well as definitions of “non-priority” food items and other packaging requirements are also in the standard. In addition, there are different organisations such as the ACCC that are responsible for monitoring whether businesses are complying with these requirements.
Concluding thoughts
To conclude, there are a number of requirements for food labels in Australia. Each label is dependent on a number of factors. Each label must include a country of origin statement for consumers to identify. This helps in ensuring businesses are complying with their obligations. If you need further help, consult a Lawpath consumer lawyer today.
