Mandatory Allergen & Nutrition Labelling in Australia: What Food Businesses Must Know

📅 When Did the New Allergen Rules Begin?

On 25 February 2024, the Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) laws became mandatory under Standard 1.2.3 and Schedule 9 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. These laws apply to all food packaged or labelled on or after this date.

⚠️ Food packaged before 25 February 2024 can still be sold using the old allergen labelling until 25 February 2026.

✅ Who Must Comply with Allergen Labelling?

• Packaged foods sold to consumers (retail or wholesale).
• Unpackaged foods (e.g. cafes, bakeries, takeaways) must display allergen info on menus or provide it on request.

❌ When Allergen Labelling Is Not Required

• Stock packaged before 25 Feb 2024 — until 25 Feb 2026.
• Highly refined ingredients (e.g. refined soybean oil, gluten-removed glucose syrup).
• Fresh unpackaged produce, foods packaged in front of the customer, or fundraising items (e.g. sausage sizzles).

⚠️ What Allergens Must Be Declared?

Allergens must be listed in bold in both the ingredient list and a summary statement, using names from the Food Standards Code.

Allergen list: Wheat, Gluten, Egg, Milk, Soy, Peanut, Tree nuts (each listed separately), Lupin, Sesame, Fish, Crustacea, Molluscs, Sulphites (≥ 10mg/kg)

Example summary statement: “Contains: wheat, milk, soy”

📝 Nutrition Labelling – When It’s Required

The Nutrition Information Panel (NIP) provides key nutrient information and is mandatory on most packaged foods.

A compliant NIP must show:

• Energy (kJ)
• Protein
• Fat (total and saturated)
• Carbohydrates (total and sugars)
• Sodium
• Any claimed nutrients (e.g. fibre, calcium)

✅ When a NIP Is Required:

• Packaged food for retail
• Products with health/nutrition claims
• When specific nutrients are listed or promoted

❌ NIP Is Not Required For:

• Fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms
• Fresh meat, poultry, fish sold unpackaged
• Alcoholic beverages
• Very small packages (< 100cm² surface)
• Unpackaged or on-site prepared food (e.g. bakery, takeaways)
• Fundraising items (non-commercial)
• Dry tea, coffee, infusions
• Items with negligible nutrition (e.g. salt, spices)

🔎 Even when a NIP is exempt, allergen labelling still applies unless the product itself is exempt.

📁 How Electronic Business Equipment Can Help

At Electronic Business Equipment, we help Sunshine Coast food businesses comply with allergen and nutrition labelling regulations.

🖨 Label Design & Integration

• Configure receipt printers, scale labels, and POS displays to show allergens and nutrition data.

📊 POS Integration & Compliance Reporting

• Track ingredient and allergen data accurately in your POS system.

📋 Staff Training & Support

• Train your team to follow safe food labelling procedures and provide accurate information to customers.

📅 Summary Table

☎️ Need Help Getting Compliant?

Let Electronic Business Equipment guide you through the regulations and provide tailored solutions to your food labelling challenges. Whether you operate a café, butcher shop, grocer or school tuckshop, we can help.

Call us today on (07) 5443 2744 or contact us online to get started.