The Country of Origin Food (CoOL) Labelling Information Standard 2016 (Standard) commenced on 1 July 2016.
Country of Origin information must be visible on your product by the end of June 2018. It requires most food suitable for retail sale in Australia to carry Country of Origin information. This information may take the form of a text statement (statements may need to be in a defined box) or a text and graphic label known as a standard mark.
Click here to see an example.
By the end of June 2018 under the changes, it is mandatory for all priority foods grown, produced or made in Australia to include the AMAG logo together with a bar chart to indicate the proportion of Australian ingredients. Food manufacturers will be encouraged to include the origin of ingredients in additional detail on their labels.
Made in Australia from less than 10% Australian ingredients. - Made in Australia from at least 50% Australian ingredients. - Made in Australia from at least 70% Australian ingredients.
For priority foods grown, produced or made in Australia. The label includes:
For most priority food items packed in Australia (not grown produced or made). The label includes:
Packed in Australia from less than 10% Australian ingredients.
Made in Australia from at least 60% Australian ingredients.
Non-priority foods only require a text statement about where the food was grown, produced or made.
Clearly defined box .... Produced in Mexico.
The CoOL laws apply to all packaged and some unpackaged foods offered or suitable for retail sale in Australia.
Priority foods are all other food products not included in the categories previously listed.
Packaged foods are divided in two categories, Priority and Non-Priority.
Non-Priority foods include seasoning, confectionery, tea and coffee, biscuits and snack food, soft drinks, sports drinks, and alcoholic beverages.
Some unpackaged foods for retail sale needs a label placed on the food or in connection with the display to identify the country or countries of origin of the food.
Country of Origin labelling applies to unpackaged fresh and processed fruit, vegetables, nuts, spices, herbs, legumes, seeds, fish (including shellfish) and meat (pork, beef, lamb and chicken).
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