{"id":"F2023L00523","name":"Food Standards (Application A1256 – Colour of pregnancy warning labels for corrugated cardboard packaging) Variation","slug":"food-standards-application-a1256-colour-of-pregnancy-warning-labels-for-corrugated-cardboard-packagi","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":104175,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2023L00523-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Food Standards (Application A1256 – Colour of pregnancy warning labels for corrugated cardboard packaging) Variation","content":"![Description: FS_Logo_K](image.001.png)\n\nFood Standards (Application A1256 – Colour of pregnancy warning labels for corrugated cardboard packaging) Variation\n\nThe Board of Food Standards Australia New Zealand gives notice of the making of this variation under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991. The variation commences on the date specified in clause 3 of this variation.\n\nDated 28 April 2023\n\n![Signature of the Delegate of the Board of Food Standards Australia New Zealand.](image.002.png)\n\nDr Nick Fletcher\n\nDelegate of the Board of Food Standards Australia New Zealand\n\nNote:\n\nThis variation will be published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. FSC 159 on 4 May 2023. This means that this date is the gazettal date for the purposes of clause 3 of the variation.\n\n  \n\n1 Name\n\nThis instrument is the Food Standards (Application A1256 – Colour of pregnancy warning labels for corrugated cardboard packaging) Variation.\n\n2 Variation to a standard in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code\n\nThe Schedule varies a Standard in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.\n\n3 Commencement\n\nThe variation commences on the date of gazettal.\n\n4 Effect of the variations made by this instrument\n\n(1) Section 1.1.1—9 of Standard 1.1.1 does not apply to the variations made by this instrument.\n\n(2) This clause applies to a food product that is an alcoholic beverage:\n\n(a) that is required by subsection 2.7.1—10(1) of the Code to display a pregnancy warning mark on its outer package; and\n\n(b) to which subsection 2.7.1—13(2) of the Code applies.\n\n(3) During the transition period, the food product may be sold if the product complies with one of the following:\n\n(a) the Code as in force without the pregnancy warning label amendments; or\n\n(b) the Code as amended by the pregnancy warning label amendments.\n\n(4) The food product may be sold after the transition period if:\n\n(a) the product complies with the Code as amended by the pregnancy warning label amendments; or\n\n(b) both the following apply:\n\n(i) the product was packaged and labelled before 2 February 2024; and\n\n(ii) the labelling on the product’s outer package complies with the Code as in force without the pregnancy warning label amendments.\n\n(5) This clause does not limit clause 4 of the Food Standards (Proposal P1050 – Pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages) Variation.\n\n(6) For the purposes of this clause:\n\n(a) the pregnancy warning label amendments means the variations made by both of the following:\n\n(i) this instrument; and\n\n(ii) the Food Standards (Proposal P1050 – Pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages) Variation;\n\n(b) the transition period means the period commencing on this instrument’s date of commencement and ending on 1 February 2024.\n\nSchedule\n\nStandard 2.7.1\n\n\\[1\\] After subsection 2.7.1—10(2)\n\nInsert\n\n(2A) Subsection (2) does not apply to a \\*pregnancy warning mark to which section 2.7.1—13 applies.\n\n\\[2\\] Subsection 2.7.1—12(1)\n\nOmit “A”, substitute “Subject to subsection (10), a”.\n\n\\[3\\] After subsection 2.7.1—12(9)\n\nInsert\n\n(10) This section does not apply to a \\*pregnancy warning mark to which section 2.7.1—13 applies.\n\n\\[4\\] After section 2.7.1—12\n\nInsert:\n\n2.7.1—13 Optional pregnancy warning mark for corrugated cardboard outer packaging\n\n(1) This section applies to a \\*pregnancy warning mark that:\n\n(a) is required by subsection 2.7.1—10(1) to be displayed on the outer package of a \\*prescribed alcoholic beverage; and\n\n(b) is displayed on a \\*prescribed alcoholic beverage to which subsection (2) applies; and\n\n(c) has been printed on the outer package of the \\*prescribed alcoholic beverage using a post-print (flexographic) printing process; and\n\n(d) complies with this section.\n\n(2) This subsection applies to a \\*prescribed alcoholic beverage that has:\n\n(a) packaging that includes more than one \\*individual unit; and\n\n(b) an outer package that:\n\n(i) is made of corrugated cardboard; and\n\n(ii) has an outside liner made of kraft, recycled or white paper.\n\n(3) The \\*pregnancy warning pictogram must be at least 14mm in diameter.\n\n(4) The \\*size of type of the signal words of the \\*pregnancy warning mark must be at least 4.4 mm.\n\n(5) The \\*size of type of the statement of the \\*pregnancy warning mark must be at least 3.4 mm.\n\n(6) The background of the \\*pregnancy warning mark must be in the same colour as the outside liner.\n\nNote Subparagraph 2.7.1—13(2)(b)(ii) requires the outside liner to be made of kraft, recycled or white paper, the colours of which are brown, grey or white.\n\n(7) The circle and strikethrough of the \\*pregnancy warning pictogram must be in the colour black.\n\n(8) The silhouette of a pregnant woman on the \\*pregnancy warning pictogram must be in the colour black.\n\n(9) The strikethrough of the \\*pregnancy warning pictogram must be displayed with a clear space on either side of the strikethrough so both the strikethrough and silhouette of a pregnant woman on the \\*pregnancy warning pictogram are clearly legible.\n\n(10) The signal words of the \\*pregnancy warning mark must be:\n\n(a) in the colour black; and\n\n(b) in bold font; and\n\n(c) in a sans-serif typeface; and\n\n(d) in capital letters; and\n\n(e) in English.\n\n(11) The statement of the \\*pregnancy warning mark must be:\n\n(a) in the colour black; and\n\n(b) in a sans-serif typeface; and\n\n(c) in sentence case; and\n\n(d) in English.\n\n(12) The border of the \\*pregnancy warning mark must be in the colour black.\n\n(13) The \\*pregnancy warning mark must be displayed on the package with a clear space that:\n\n(a) surrounds the outside of the border of the pregnancy warning mark; and\n\n(b) is at least 3mm in width.\n\n(14) The \\*pregnancy warning mark must be displayed as a whole and without modification.\n\n(15) In this section, a post-print (flexographic) printing process means the pregnancy warning mark is printed directly on to the outside liner of corrugated cardboard packaging using flexible raised image printing plates.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument adds an optional, narrowly framed alternative marking regime to Standard 2.7.1 by inserting section 2.7.1‑13 (Schedule item [4]). That new section creates a specific pathway for pregnancy warning marks on corrugated cardboard outer packaging (including size, colour, and printing process limits), modifies application of existing subsections (see Schedule items [1]–[3]), and establishes a transition period with sell‑through rules to 1 February 2024 (clause 4(2)–(4), 4(6)(b)). It is intended to operate alongside the Proposal P1050 variation (clause 4(6)(a))."},"complexity_factors":["Targeted technical specifications: minimum pictogram diameter, signal‑word and statement type sizes, clear space, bold/sans-serif/case rules, and strict colour requirements (Schedule, 2.7.1‑13(3)–(5),(10)–(13),(14)).","Narrow applicability conditions: applies only to multi‑unit products with corrugated cardboard outer packs whose outside liner is kraft, recycled or white paper (2.7.1‑13(2)).","Printing‑process constraint: limited to post‑print (flexographic) printing directly onto the outside liner (2.7.1‑13(1)(c) and (15)), which affects pack design and printer capability.","Cross‑references and exemptions: inserts new exceptions to existing provisions (adds 2.7.1‑13 and amends 2.7.1‑10(2) and 2.7.1‑12 via Schedule items [1]–[3]; clause 4(1) disapplies Section 1.1.1‑9 for these variations).","Transition and sell‑through rules: defined transition period (commencement to 1 Feb 2024) with specific post‑transition allowances for stock packaged before 2 Feb 2024 (clause 4(2)–(4), 4(6)(b)).","Interaction with concurrent amendment: treated as part of the pregnancy warning label amendments together with Food Standards (Proposal P1050), creating interdependence between instruments (clause 4(6)(a), 4(5)).","Enforcement and compliance nuance: requirement that marks be \"displayed as a whole and without modification\" and precise colour/contrast rules may complicate monitoring and compliance checks (2.7.1‑13(14),(6)–(12))."],"plain_english_summary":"This variation creates an optional black-on-kraft pregnancy warning mark for prescribed alcoholic beverages packaged in corrugated cardboard outer packs printed by a post-print (flexographic) process. It sets minimum pictogram and type sizes, colour and clear-space rules, and a transition period ending 1 February 2024. It affects beverage manufacturers, packers and printers by changing labelling specifications, constraining printing methods and defining compliance and sell-through timelines."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This variation maintains its original narrow scope. It was designed specifically to address the technical challenges of printing pregnancy warnings on corrugated cardboard packaging, and it does exactly that without expanding into broader alcohol labelling or other packaging types."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references to other standards (Standard 1.1.1, Standard 2.7.1, and the earlier Pregnancy warning labels variation)","Nested conditional logic: the new section only applies if multiple conditions are met (corrugated cardboard, specific liner materials, flexographic printing, multi-unit packaging)","Transition period provisions with specific cut-off dates (1 February 2024 and 2 February 2024)","Technical terminology requiring definitions ('post-print (flexographic) printing process', 'outside liner', 'prescribed alcoholic beverage')","Detailed prescriptive requirements (14 subsections specifying exact measurements, colours, fonts, and spacing)","Interaction clause clarifying this doesn't limit an earlier related variation"],"plain_english_summary":"This law lets alcohol sold in corrugated cardboard boxes use pregnancy warning labels that match the box colour (brown/grey/white) instead of the usual red, while requiring black text/symbols, minimum sizes, and flexographic printing. It affects alcohol makers using cardboard packaging and consumers who’ll still see warnings that blend with the box. The change is a practical, cost-saving fix for industrial printing; businesses have a transition/good‑stock allowance around 1–2 February 2024."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/food-standards-application-a1256-colour-of-pregnancy-warning-labels-for-corrugated-cardboard-packagi","history":"/api/acts/food-standards-application-a1256-colour-of-pregnancy-warning-labels-for-corrugated-cardboard-packagi/history","analysis":"/api/acts/food-standards-application-a1256-colour-of-pregnancy-warning-labels-for-corrugated-cardboard-packagi/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/food-standards-application-a1256-colour-of-pregnancy-warning-labels-for-corrugated-cardboard-packagi/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/food-standards-application-a1256-colour-of-pregnancy-warning-labels-for-corrugated-cardboard-packagi/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/food-standards-application-a1256-colour-of-pregnancy-warning-labels-for-corrugated-cardboard-packagi/documents"}}