{"id":"F2021L00145","name":"Food Standards (Proposal P1044 – Plain English Allergen Labelling) Variation","slug":"food-standards-proposal-p1044-plain-english-allergen-labelling-variation","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":101256,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2021L00145-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Food Standards (Proposal P1044 – Plain English Allergen Labelling) Variation","content":"![Description: FS_Logo_K](image.001.png)\n\nFood Standards (Proposal P1044 – Plain English Allergen Labelling) 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 the variation.\n\nDated 19 February 2021\n\n![](image.002.png)\n\nJoanna Richards\n\nStandards Management Officer\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 138 on 25 February 2021 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 (Proposal P1044 – Plain English Allergen Labelling) Variation.\n\n2 Variation to standards in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code\n\nThe Schedule varies Standards 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) During the transition period, a food product may be sold if the food product complies with one of the following:\n\n(a) the Code as in force without the variations made by this instrument; or\n\n(b) the Code as amended by the variations made by this instrument.\n\n(3) A food product that was packaged and labelled before the end of the transition period may be sold during the post-transition period if the product complies with one of the following:\n\n(a) the Code as in force without the variations made by this instrument; or\n\n(b) the Code as amended by the variations made by this instrument.\n\n(4) For the purposes of this clause:\n\n(a) transition period means the period commencing on the variation’s date of commencement and ending 36 months after the date of commencement;\n\n(b) post-transition period means the 24 month period commencing on the day after the transition period ends.\n\nSchedule\n\nStandard 1.1.1\n\n\\[1\\] Standard 1.1.1 is varied by omitting the words ‘Mandatory advisory statements’ from subsection 1.1.1—2(2), substituting ‘Mandatory advisory statements and declarations’\n\nStandard 1.1.2\n\n\\[2\\] Standard 1.1.2 is varied by inserting into subsection 1.1.2—2(3), in alphabetical order\n\nrequired name, of a particular food, means the name declared by section 1.2.3—5 as the required name for that food for the purposes of Division 3 of Standard 1.2.3.\n\nStandard 1.2.3\n\n\\[3\\] Standard 1.2.3 is varied by\n\n\\[3.1\\] inserting after Note 2 to Standard 1.2.3\n\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n\n\\[3.2\\] omitting section 1.2.3—1A, substituting\n\n1.2.3—1A Definitions\n\nNote In this Code (see section 1.1.2—2):\n\nrequired name, of a particular food, means the name declared by section 1.2.3—5 as the required name for that food for the purposes of Division 3 of Standard 1.2.3.\n\nsize of type means the measurement from the base to the top of a letter or numeral.\n\n\\[3.3\\] inserting after section 1.2.3—1A\n\nDivision 2 Mandatory statements\n\n\\[3.4\\] inserting after section 1.2.3—3\n\nDivision 3 Mandatory declarations\n\n\\[3.5\\] omitting section 1.2.3—4, substituting\n\n1.2.3—4 Mandatory declarations of certain foods\n\n(1) For the labelling provisions, if a food to which this section applies is present in a food for sale in a manner listed in subsection (5), a declaration that the food is present is required.\n\nNote The labelling provisions related to this requirement are set out in Standard 1.2.1, subparagraph 1.2.4—5(6)(b)(i), and paragraph 2.9.5—9(1)(d).\n\n(2) A declaration required by subsection (1) must comply with this Division.\n\n(3) This section applies to:\n\n(a) a food that is listed in Column 1 of the table to section S9—3; or\n\n(b) a derivative of such a food.\n\n(4) Despite subsection (3), this section does not apply to:\n\n(a) a food that is listed in Column 2 of the table to section S9—3; or\n\n(b) a derivative of such a food.\n\n(5) For the purposes of subsection (1), the food may be present as any of the following:\n\n(a) an ingredient or as an ingredient of a \\*compound ingredient; or\n\n(b) a substance \\*used as a food additive, or an ingredient or component of such a substance; or\n\n(c) a substance \\*used as a processing aid, or an ingredient or component of such a substance.\n\n1.2.3—5 Food name required for a mandatory declaration\n\nThe \\*required name of a food listed in Column 1 of the table to section S9—3 is:\n\n(a) when listed in a statement of ingredients—the corresponding name or one of the corresponding names in Column 3 of that table;\n\n(b) in all other cases—the corresponding name or names in Column 4 of that table.\n\n1.2.3—6 What a mandatory declaration must state\n\n(1) A declaration other than a declaration to which subsection (2) or (4) applies must be made by stating the \\*required name of the food to be declared.\n\n(2) A declaration made for the purposes of paragraph 1.2.1—8(1)(d) or subparagraph 1.2.4—5(6)(b)(i) must be made by:\n\n(a) listing in the statement of ingredients of the food for sale:\n\n(i) the \\*required name of the food to be declared; and\n\n(ii) if the food to be declared is a substance \\*used as a processing aid or an ingredient or component of such a substance, the words ‘processing aid’ in conjunction with that required name; and\n\nExamples: processing aids (wheat, egg); processing aid containing wheat.\n\n(b) including a summary statement on the label of the food for sale.\n\nNote Statement of ingredients provisions are set out in Standard 1.2.4.\n\n(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to a food for sale to which subsection 1.2.4—2(2) or subsection 1.2.4—2(3) applies.\n\nNote Subsections 1.2.4—2(2) and (3) provide that certain foods are not required to have a statement of ingredients on their label.\n\n(4) A declaration made in relation to any of the following foods for sale must be made by stating the name of the food to which subsection 1.2.3—4(1) applies and that is present in the food for sale:\n\n(a) a food for special medical purposes; or\n\n(b) an infant formula product that is:\n\n(i) specifically formulated for premature or low birthweight infants;\n\n(ii) specifically formulated to satisfy particular metabolic, immunological, renal, hepatic or malabsorptive conditions;\n\n(iii) represented as lactose free formula or low lactose formula; or\n\n(iv) based on a \\*protein substitute.\n\nNote 1 Paragraph 2.9.5—9(1)(d) applies to food for special medical purposes and provides that a label that is required for such food must make (among other things) any mandatory declarations required by section 1.2.3—4.\n\nNote 2 Division 4 of Standard 2.9.1 applies to infant formula products for special dietary use and sets out compositional and labelling requirements for such food.\n\n(5) For the purposes of subsection (4), the name to be stated must be:\n\n(a) the name listed for that food in Column 1 of the table to section S9—3; or\n\n(b) any other name by which that food is commonly known.\n\n1.2.3—7 Form of a mandatory declaration\n\n(1) A \\*required name in a statement of ingredients must be printed:\n\n(a) in a bold font that provides a distinct contrast with any other text in the statement of ingredients which is not a required name; and\n\n(b) in a \\*size of type that is not less than the size of type of the other text in the statement of ingredients that is not a required name.\n\n(2) A \\*required name in a statement of ingredients must be listed:\n\n(a) separately for each ingredient that is or contains the relevant food; and\n\nExample kamut (wheat), maltodextrin (wheat)\n\n(b) as a separate word or as separate words if the required name is contained in the name of the ingredient that is or contains the relevant food; and\n\nExamples milk powder, sesame seeds, but not buttermilk\n\n(c) separately from but next to the name of the ingredient that is or contains the relevant food unless the required name:\n\n(i) is identical to the name of the ingredient; or\n\n(ii) is contained in the name of the ingredient.\n\nExamples sodium caseinate (milk) or sodium caseinate (from milk); pasta (wheat, egg)\n\n(3) A summary statement must:\n\n(a) commence with the word ‘Contains’ and then list the \\*required name of each food to be declared; and\n\n(b) contain no other words.\n\n(4) A summary statement must:\n\n(a) appear on the label of the food for sale:\n\n(i) in the same field of view as the statement of ingredients; and\n\n(ii) directly next to the statement of ingredients; and\n\n(b) be distinctly separated from the statement of ingredients.\n\n(5) A summary statement must be printed:\n\n(a) in the same typeface and \\*size of type as any \\*required name in the Statement of ingredients of the food for sale; and\n\n(b) in a bold font that provides a distinct contrast with any other text in the statement of ingredients which is not a required name.\n\n(6) In this section, a summary statement means a summary statement required by paragraph 1.2.3—6(2)(b).\n\n1.2.3—8 Compliance with requirement for required name\n\nIf a provision of this Division requires a \\*required name to be declared or stated, that required name may be declared or stated in either the singular or plural form as required.\n\nStandard 1.2.4\n\n\\[4\\] Standard 1.2.4 is amended by\n\n\\[4.1\\] omitting the words ‘A statement of ingredients’ from section 1.2.4—4, substituting ‘Subject to Division 3 of Standard 1.2.3, a statement of ingredients’\n\n\\[4.2\\] inserting after section 1.2.4—4\n\nNote Division 3 of Standard 1.2.3 provides for mandatory declarations of certain foods, including by declarations in a statement of ingredients.\n\nStandard 2.9.5\n\n\\[5\\] Standard 2.9.5 is amended by\n\n\\[5.1\\] omitting paragraph 2.9.5—9(1)(d), substituting\n\n(d) any required advisory statements, \\*warning statements, other statements, and declarations (see section 2.9.5—10);\n\n\\[5.2\\] omitting the heading for section 2.9.5—10, substituting\n\n2.9.5—10 Mandatory statements and declarations—food for special medical purposes\n\n\\[5.3\\] omitting subsection 2.9.5—10(2), substituting\n\n(2) For paragraph 2.9.5—9(1)(d), the required advisory statements and declarations are any that are required by:\n\n(a) items 1, 4, 6 or 9 of the table to section S9—2; or\n\n(b) subsection 1.2.3—2(2); or\n\n(c) section 1.2.3—4.\n\nSchedule 9\n\n\\[6\\] Schedule 9 is varied by\n\n\\[6.1\\] omitting the heading of the Schedule, substituting\n\nSchedule 9 Mandatory advisory statements and declarations\n\n\\[6.2\\] omitting Note 1 of the Schedule, substituting\n\nNote 1 This instrument is a standard under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). The standards together make up the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. See also section 1.1.1—3.\n\nStandard 1.2.3 is a standard for the information requirements relating to warning statements, advisory statements, and declarations. Standard 2.9.5 contains similar information requirements for food for special medical purposes. This Standard lists mandatory advisory statements for subsection 1.2.3—2(1) and paragraph 2.9.5—10(2)(a); and mandatory declarations for subsection 1.2.3—4(1).\n\n\\[6.3\\] omitting ‘Mandatory advisory statements’ in section S9—1, substituting ‘Mandatory advisory statements and declarations’\n\n\\[6.4\\] inserting after section S9—2\n\nS9—3 Mandatory declarations\n\n(1) For Division 3 of Standard 1.2.3, a reference to the table to section S9—3 is a reference to the table to subsection (3).\n\n(2) For the purposes of the table to subsection (3):\n\n(a) the definition of fish in subsection 1.1.2—3(2) does not apply; and\n\n(b) fish excludes crustacea and molluscs; and\n\n(c) mollusc means a marine mollusc.\n\n(3) The table to this subsection is:\n\nMandatory declarations\n\n| Item | Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |\n| ---- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------ |\n| | Food | Exemption | Required name for declarations in a statement of ingredients | Required name for other declarations |\n| 1 | added sulphites in concentrations of 10 mg/kg or more | | sulphites | sulphites |\n| 2 | Any of the following cereals (including hybridised strains thereof) if they contain *gluten: | the cereal or its hybridised strain that is present in beer or spirits | | |\n| | barley | | barley | gluten |\n| | oats | | oats | gluten |\n| | rye | | rye | gluten |\n| 3 | wheat (including its hybridised strain) irrespective of whether it contains gluten | (a) the wheat or its hybridised strain that is present in beer or spirits;(b) glucose syrups made from wheat starch and that:(i) have been subject to a refining process that has removed gluten protein content to the lowest level that is reasonably achievable; and(ii) have a gluten protein content that does not exceed 20 mg/kg;(c) alcohol distilled from wheat. | wheat | (a) wheat; and(b) if gluten is present - gluten. |\n| 4 | Any of the following tree nuts: | | | |\n| | almond | | almond | almond |\n| | Brazil nut | | Brazil nut | Brazil nut |\n| | cashew | | cashew | cashew |\n| | hazelnut | | hazelnut | hazelnut |\n| | macadamia | | macadamia | macadamia |\n| | pecan | | pecan | pecan |\n| | pine nut | | pine nut | pine nut |\n| | pistachio | | pistachio | pistachio |\n| | walnut | | walnut | walnut |\n| 5 | crustacea | | crustacean | crustacean |\n| 6 | egg | | egg | egg |\n| 7 | fish | isinglass derived from fish swim bladders and used as a clarifying agent in beer or wine | fish | fish |\n| 8 | lupin | | lupin | lupin |\n| 9 | milk | alcohol distilled from whey | milk | milk |\n| 10 | mollusc | | mollusc | mollusc |\n| 11 | peanut | | peanut | peanut |\n| 12 | sesame seed | | sesame | sesame |\n| 13 | soybean | (a) soybean oil that has been degummed, neutralised, bleached and deodorised;(b) soybean derivatives that are tocopherol or phytosterol. | soy, soya or soybean | soy |\n\nSchedule 10\n\n\\[7\\] Schedule 10 is varied by\n\n\\[7.1\\] omitting section S10—1A\n\n\\[7.2\\] omitting the following condition for use for ‘cereals’ from the table to section S10—2\n\n| | If the cereal is wheat, rye, barley, oats or spelt or a hybridised strain of one of those cereals, the specific name of the cereal must be declared. |\n| --- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n\\[7.3\\] omitting paragraph (a) of the condition for use for ‘fats or oils’ from the table to section S10—2, substituting\n\n| | (a) The statement of ingredients must declare:(i) whether the source is animal or vegetable; and(ii) if the food is a dairy product, including ice cream—the specific source of animal fats or oils. |\n| --- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n\\[7.4\\] omitting the following condition for use for ‘fish’ from the table to section S10—2\n\n| | If crustacea, the specific name of the crustacea must be declared. |\n| --- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n\nsubstituting\n\n| | The definition of fish in subsection 1.1.2—3(2) does not apply for the purposes of this table. |\n| --- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n\\[7.5\\] omitting from the table to section S10—2\n\n| nuts | The specific name of the nut must be declared. |\n| ---- | ---------------------------------------------- |\n\n\\[7.6\\] omitting paragraphs (a) and (b) of the condition for use for ‘starch’ from the table to section S10—2, substituting\n\n| | The name ‘starch’ may be used for any unmodified starch or any starch which has been modified by either physical means or enzymes. |\n| --- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"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":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose: improving allergen labelling clarity. While it introduces new mechanisms (mandatory declarations, required names, bold formatting), these are implementation tools for the core objective of plain English allergen labelling. The scope has not expanded into unrelated areas like nutritional content or food safety standards."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references between Standards (1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.2.3, 1.2.4, 2.9.5, Schedule 9, Schedule 10)","Nested conditional logic: exemptions apply to exemptions (e.g., wheat exemptions for beer/spirits, glucose syrups, and distilled alcohol)","Dual naming system: different 'required names' for ingredient lists (Column 3) versus other declarations (Column 4)","Complex transition provisions with overlapping periods (36-month transition + 24-month post-transition)","Specific formatting requirements (bold font, size of type, field of view, proximity to ingredients list)","Multiple defined terms including 'required name', 'size of type', 'compound ingredient', 'processing aid'","Special rules for specific product categories (food for special medical purposes, infant formula)","Modification of existing Standards rather than standalone text, requiring readers to mentally reconstruct the amended Code"],"plain_english_summary":"This law requires food labels in Australia and New Zealand to declare allergens using mandated plain-English names, display those names in bold within ingredient lists, and include a simple \"Contains [allergen]\" statement. \n\nIt affects food manufacturers, importers and retailers (who must relabel and manage stock during transition periods) and improves safety for consumers with allergies by making allergen information consistent and more visible."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The variation expands the Code’s labelling obligations by adding a Division for mandatory declarations and renaming Schedule 9 to include 'declarations', prescribing plain‑English required names and specific format rules (see 1.2.3—4, 1.2.3—5, 1.2.3—7 and S9—3). It also tightens and reworks Schedule 10 conditions (see Schedule 10 amendments) and integrates declarations into food‑for‑special‑medical‑purposes rules (2.9.5—10), thereby broadening what must be declared and how."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references and amendments across Standards 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.2.3, 1.2.4, 2.9.5 and Schedules 9 and 10 increase interpretive complexity (see variations to Standards 1.2.3—4, 1.2.3—7, 2.9.5—9 and S9—3).","New and amended definitions (required name; size of type) change how existing labelling rules are applied and interpreted (1.2.3—1A).","Detailed table of mandatory declarations (S9—3) contains many items, specific exemptions and conditional language (e.g. beer/spirits, distilled alcohol, refined glucose syrups), requiring granular ingredient tracing.","Formatting and placement rules (bold, same typeface and size, ‘Contains’ summary adjacent to statement of ingredients) impose prescriptive typographic and design compliance obligations (1.2.3—7(1),(3),(4),(5)).","Special rules for processing aids, derivatives and foods for special medical purposes add onward compliance checks and cross-referencing to other labelling provisions (1.2.3—4(5), 1.2.3—6(2), 2.9.5—10).","Transition and post-transition sale rules create time‑dependent compliance pathways and inventory management obligations (clause 4: 36‑month transition + 24‑month post‑transition).","Removals and substitutions in Schedule 10 conditions (e.g. specificity for cereals, nuts, fish/crustacea) change prior declaration obligations and may require reformulation of existing label templates (Schedule 10 amendments [7.2–7.6])."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument changes the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to require plain‑English allergen declarations and set standard label format rules. It prescribes required names for listed allergens, a ‘Contains’ summary statement in bold and minimum type size rules, and shows how declarations apply to ingredients, processing aids and derivatives. Food manufacturers, packagers and retailers must update labels within a 36‑month transition (plus a 24‑month post‑transition sale period) to comply with the new declaration and formatting requirements."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/food-standards-proposal-p1044-plain-english-allergen-labelling-variation","history":"/api/acts/food-standards-proposal-p1044-plain-english-allergen-labelling-variation/history","analysis":"/api/acts/food-standards-proposal-p1044-plain-english-allergen-labelling-variation/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/food-standards-proposal-p1044-plain-english-allergen-labelling-variation/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/food-standards-proposal-p1044-plain-english-allergen-labelling-variation/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/food-standards-proposal-p1044-plain-english-allergen-labelling-variation/documents"}}