Allergen Labelling Transition Period Ending

In February 2021, the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code was amended to introduce new requirements for the labeling of allergens in food. The transition period for compliance on allergen labelling comes to an end on 25 February 2024.

The requirments state that allergen labelling is to be declared in the following format:

• in a specific format and location on food labels, and
• using simple, plain English terms in bold font

Declarations must be made in:

• the statement of ingredients using bold font and a font size no smaller than that used for other listed ingredients (e.g. maltodextrin (wheat), milk powder), and
• a separate allergen summary statement in bold font beginning with the word ‘contains’ (e.g. Contains milk) located in the same field of view and directly next to the statement of ingredients.

Foods not required to display a statement of ingredients must still provide declarations elsewhere on the label (such as in a summary statement) using the required names.

For food not required to bear a label (such as food provided at a café or takeaway), declarations must be displayed in connection with the food or provided to the purchaser upon request using the required names. 

Food items that are required to be declared include:

*  Barley, oats and rye must be declared if they contain gluten.
** Sulphites must be declared when added in amounts equal to or more than 10 milligrams per kilogram of food. 

Full details of allergen labelling requirements can be found here on the Food Standards website.