Standard 1.2.1 - Requirement to have labels or otherwise provide information, Food Safety Glossary
The Food Standards Code standard that sets out when packaged food must carry a label and when information may instead be provided in another way.
The Food Standards Code standard that sets out when packaged food must carry a label and when information may instead be provided in another way. Standard 1.2.1 is the gateway to the labelling requirements in Chapter 1 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. It establishes the general rule that food for sale must bear a label, and then sets out the situations in which a label is required, when information can be given by other means, and when certain exemptions apply. The standard works together with the other Part 1.2 standards, which specify the individual pieces of information that must appear, such as the name of the food, ingredient lists, date marking, nutrition information and allergen declarations. Standard 1.2.1 decides how those requirements are delivered: on a package label, on or near unpackaged food, or on request in the case of food sold unpackaged or made and packaged on the premises. For a manufacturer of packaged food, Standard 1.2.1 means the pack must carry a compliant label displaying the mandatory information. For a retailer selling food that is not in a package, or that is packaged in front of the customer, some information may instead be displayed with the food or provided when the customer asks. Allergen information is treated seriously across all these channels: even where a full label is not required, allergen declarations must still be available. Businesses commonly get this wrong by assuming unpackaged or made-to-order food carries no information duties at all, when in fact key details such as allergens must still be provided. A Perth deli selling loose olives from an open display does not need a full pack label under Standard 1.2.1, but it must still be able to tell a customer which allergens the product contains when asked.
Frequently asked questions
Does all food sold in Australia need a label?
No. Standard 1.2.1 requires a label for most packaged food but allows information for unpackaged food, or food packaged in front of the customer, to be provided by display or on request.
What information does Standard 1.2.1 itself require?
It sets the framework for when and how information is provided; the specific content, such as ingredient lists and date marks, is set by the other Part 1.2 standards.
Do allergens still need to be declared for unpackaged food?
Yes. Allergen information must be available even for food that does not require a full label, whether by display or on request.
Is food made and packaged on the premises exempt from labelling?
It may be exempt from carrying a full label, but mandatory information such as allergen declarations must still be provided to the customer.
Where do the detailed labelling rules live?
In the Part 1.2 standards of the Food Standards Code, including date marking, ingredient labelling and nutrition information requirements.
