The labelling requirement for showing a use-by or best-before date on packaged food, set out in Standard 1.2.5.
The labelling requirement for showing a use-by or best-before date on packaged food, set out in Standard 1.2.5. Date marking is the requirement to display a date on packaged food that tells consumers how long the food will keep. The rules are set out in Standard 1.2.5 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. There are two kinds of date mark, a use-by date for foods that must be eaten by a certain date for safety reasons, and a best-before date for foods that keep their quality up to a certain date. Under the Standard, most packaged foods with a shelf life of two years or less must carry a date mark. Some foods are exempt, and bread with a shelf life of less than seven days may carry a baked-on or baked-for date instead. Where a date mark is shown, storage conditions needed to meet that date, such as keeping the food refrigerated, must also be stated where relevant. Date marking mainly affects businesses that package and label food for sale, such as manufacturers, retailers and caterers selling pre-packaged items. They must apply the correct type of date, format it clearly and include any storage conditions the date depends on. Getting the type wrong, for example a best-before on a food that should carry a use-by, is a compliance risk. For kitchens and food service, date marking underpins day-to-day stock control. Staff read date marks when receiving deliveries, rotating stock and preparing food. Many venues add their own internal labels for food that is opened, decanted or prepared in-house, recording a date so that use-by and use-within limits can be tracked. A small producer packaging chilled dips for sale at markets checks Standard 1.2.5 and applies a use-by date, because the dips are perishable, along with a statement to keep refrigerated below 5 degrees Celsius. For its shelf-stable spice blends, it applies a best-before date instead.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the date marking rules found?
Date marking requirements are set out in Standard 1.2.5 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
What are the two types of date mark?
A use-by date, used for foods that must be eaten by a certain date for safety, and a best-before date, used for foods that keep their quality up to a certain date.
Do all packaged foods need a date mark?
Most packaged foods with a shelf life of two years or less need a date mark, but there are exemptions, including bread with a shelf life of less than seven days.
Do storage instructions need to appear with the date?
Yes, where meeting the date depends on particular storage conditions, such as refrigeration, those conditions must be stated on the label.
Can a business change a date mark on food it did not make?
No. Altering or removing the date mark applied by the manufacturer is not permitted and can be an offence. Businesses should follow the date as labelled.
