Alcohol warning labels are coming
The following is a notice from Food Standards Australia New Zealand and is included here with permission.
P1050 – Pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages
July 2020
The Australian and New Zealand governments advise women not to consume alcohol during pregnancy.
On 17 July 2020, Minister’s responsible for food regulation (the Forum) accepted a proposed draft standard for pregnancy warning labels. In making its decision, the Forum confirmed its ongoing commitment to mandatory pregnancy warning labels on alcohol to ensure women are appropriately informed about the advice to not consume alcohol while pregnant. See the Forum communique here.
On 31 July 2020, the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code was amended to include new requirements for pregnancy warning labels on packaged alcoholic beverages.
Information for industry including downloadable labels are available at the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand website.
Forum Request for Review
On 17 February 2020, FSANZ notified the Forum of its decision to approve an amendment to the Food Standards Code to require a pregnancy warning label on packaged alcoholic beverages sold in Australia and New Zealand.
On 7 April 2020, the Forum requested a review of the amendment on the grounds that it places an unreasonable cost burden on industry. The Forum requested the review consider the colour requirements of the label and signal wording.
Following its review, FSANZ notified the Forum of its decision to reaffirm the amendment with a change to the signal words from ‘HEALTH WARNING’ to ‘PREGNANCY WARNING’, and an extended transition period for implementation from two years to three years.