Guidance Helps Industry Comply With New Food Allergen Labeling Requirements in Australia, New Zealand

New requirements for the labeling of allergens in food in Australia and New Zealand came into force on February 25, 2024. To help manufacturers, importers, and retailers comply with the new requirements, the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries has published a guidance for industry.

The new regulations, titled, “P1044—Plain English Allergen Labeling,” are enforced by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) as part of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. In general, the new requirements make it so that allergen information must be declared in a specific location and format on food labels, using simple, plain English terms, in bold font.

A transition period allows for any food packaged and labeled before February 25, 2024 under previous allergen labeling rules to be sold for another two years, until February 26, 2026.