Mandatory labelling that tells consumers where a food was grown, produced, made or packed, required under the Country of Origin Food Labelling Information…
Mandatory labelling that tells consumers where a food was grown, produced, made or packed, required under the Country of Origin Food Labelling Information Standard 2016. Country of origin labelling (often shortened to CoOL) tells consumers where a food comes from. For most food offered for retail sale in Australia it is mandatory under the Country of Origin Food Labelling Information Standard 2016, a consumer information standard made under Australian Consumer Law and administered by the Commonwealth, with the ACCC responsible for enforcement. This sits alongside the food safety and general labelling requirements of the Food Standards Code rather than inside it. The standard splits food into priority and non-priority categories. Priority foods, which include most foods people buy to eat at home, generally require a standard mark: a label carrying the kangaroo-in-a-triangle logo for foods grown, produced or made in Australia, plus a bar chart and text showing the proportion of Australian ingredients. Non-priority foods, such as confectionery, biscuits and soft drinks, need only a text statement of origin. A business that grows, produces, manufacturers or imports packaged food for Australian retail needs to work out whether each product is a priority or non-priority food, then apply the correct label. For priority foods this usually means the standard mark with the logo, the bar chart of Australian content and the explanatory text, positioned so it is clear and legible on the package. Food sold unpackaged, such as fruit and vegetables or seafood at a market or fishmonger, still needs country of origin information, typically shown on or near the food with a sign. Food service businesses like restaurants and cafes serving ready-to-eat meals are generally outside the mandatory scheme, though pork, and some seafood in some jurisdictions, can be subject to separate origin disclosure rules. A jam maker using Australian-grown fruit confirms jam is a priority food, then prints the kangaroo-in-a-triangle standard mark with a bar chart showing the percentage of Australian ingredients and the words made in Australia from at least 95% Australian ingredients, checking the exact wording against the Commonwealth country of origin guidance before printing.
Frequently asked questions
Is country of origin labelling mandatory?
Yes, for most food offered for retail sale in Australia it is mandatory under the Country of Origin Food Labelling Information Standard 2016, made under Australian Consumer Law.
Who administers and enforces it?
It is a Commonwealth consumer information standard administered by the Australian Government, with the ACCC responsible for enforcing compliance.
What is the difference between priority and non-priority foods?
Priority foods, most of what people buy to eat at home, generally need the standard mark with a bar chart of Australian content, while non-priority foods need only a text origin statement.
What does the kangaroo-in-a-triangle logo mean?
It indicates a food was grown, produced or made in Australia, and it appears on the standard mark for priority foods alongside a bar chart and text about Australian ingredient content.
Do restaurants and cafes have to label origin?
Ready-to-eat food served in food service is generally outside the mandatory scheme, though separate rules can apply to some foods such as pork, so businesses should check current guidance.
