Commonwealth legislation

Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code - Standard 1.4.3 - Articles and Materials in Contact with Food

RepealedCTH

This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Collection

legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

1/10 complexity

This Standard permits use of non-food items that contact food (packaging, labels, moisture/oxygen absorbers, mould inhibitors, inserts) so long as they meet a basic safety test: they must not be small or shaped so they could block the throat or digestive tract, nor cause harm if accidentally chewed or swallowed. It doesn’t list approved chemicals or materials but points manufacturers to contamination limits and plastic specifications to meet that safety threshold.

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Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code - Standard 1.4.3 - Articles and Materials in Contact with Food.

Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code - Standard 1.4.3 - Articles and Materials in Contact with Food

Standard 1.4.3

Articles and Materials in Contact with Food

Purpose

This Standard provides permission for articles and materials to be in contact with food in accordance with the conditions set out in this Standard. Standard 1.4.1 sets out the maximum levels for a number of metal and non-metal contaminants and natural toxicants that may be present in food as a result of contact with the articles and materials regulated in this Standard.

Table of Provisions

1 Interpretation

2 Permission for articles and materials

Clauses

1 Interpretation

In this Standard -

articles and materials means any materials in contact with food, including packaging material, which may enclose materials such as moisture absorbers, mould inhibitors, oxygen absorbers, promotional materials, writing or other graphics.

2 Permission for articles and materials

Articles and materials may be placed in contact with food, provided such articles or materials, if taken into the mouth, are not -

(a) capable of being swallowed or of obstructing any alimentary or respiratory passage; and
(b) otherwise likely to cause bodily harm, distress or discomfort.

Note: Editorial note:

Note: This Code does not specify details of materials to be added to or used to produce food packaging materials or articles in contact with food. It is the responsibility of food manufacturers and retailers to ensure that their products are safe and that they comply with all relevant legislation.

Note: Standards Australia has developed an Australian Standard for Plastics Materials for Food Contact Use, Australian Standard AS2070 –1999.

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

1 Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code - Standard 1.4.3 - Articles and Materials in Contact with Food

Standard 1.4.3

Articles and Materials in Contact with Food

Purpose

Table of Provisions

1 Interpretation

2 Permission for articles and materials

Clauses

1 Interpretation

In this Standard -

articles and materials means any materials in contact with food, including packaging material, which may enclose materials such as moisture absorbers, mould inhibitors, oxygen absorbers, promotional materials, writing or other graphics.

2 Permission for articles and materials

Articles and materials may be placed in contact with food, provided such articles or materials, if taken into the mouth, are not -

(a) capable of being swallowed or of obstructing any alimentary or respiratory passage; and
(b) otherwise likely to cause bodily harm, distress or discomfort.

Note: Editorial note:

Note: This Code does not specify details of materials to be added to or used to produce food packaging materials or articles in contact with food. It is the responsibility of food manufacturers and retailers to ensure that their products are safe and that they comply with all relevant legislation.

Note: Standards Australia has developed an Australian Standard for Plastics Materials for Food Contact Use, Australian Standard AS2070 –1999.