1Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 1.2.5 – Information requirements – date marking of food for sale

Standard 1.2.5 Information requirements – date marking of food for sale

Note 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.

Note 2 The provisions of the Code that apply in New Zealand are incorporated in, or adopted under, the Food Act 2014 (NZ). See also section 1.1.1—3.

1.2.5—1 Name

This Standard is Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 1.2.5 – Information requirements – date marking of food for sale.

Note Commencement:
This Standard commences on 1 March 2016, being the date specified as the commencement date in notices in the Gazette and the New Zealand Gazette under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). See also section 93 of that Act.

1.2.5—2 Definitions

Note In this Code (see section 1.1.2—2):

baked-for date, in relation to bread, means:

(a) if the time at which the bread was baked is before midday—the baked-on date;

(b) if the time at which the bread was baked is after midday—the day after the baked-on date.

Note For example, bread that is baked after midday on one day may have a ‘baked-for date’ of the following day.

baked-on date, in relation to bread, means the date on which the bread was baked.

best-before date, for a food for sale, means the date up to which the food for sale will remain fully marketable and will retain any specific qualities for which express or implied claims have been made, if the food for sale:

(a) remains in an intact package during its storage; and

(b) is stored in accordance with any storage conditions applicable under Standard 1.2.6.

use-by date, for a food for sale, means the date after which it is estimated that the food for sale should not be consumed because of health or safety reasons, if the food for sale:

(a) remains in an intact package during its storage; and

(b) is stored in accordance with any storage conditions applicable under Standard 1.2.6.

1.2.5—3 Food for sale must be date marked on labels

(1) For the labelling provisions, the date marking information is:

(a) if there is a *use-by date for the food—that date; or

(b) otherwise—any of:

(i) the \*best-before date of the food; or
(ii) for bread that has a shelf life of less than 7 days:

(A) the best-before date; or

(B) the *baked-for date; or

(C) the *baked-on date.