AUS/112
WTO/TBT
AU Australia
  • 22 - Beverages, spirits and vinegar
2019-12-07
2019-10-10

Imported and domestically produced packaged alcoholic beverages required to bear a label for sale in Australia and New Zealand.; - Other wine; grape must with fermentation prevented or arrested by the addition of alcohol: (HS 22042); Other fermented beverages (for example, cider, perry, mead); mixtures of fermented beverages and mixtures of fermented beverages and non-alcoholic beverages, not elsewhere specified or included (HS 2206); Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80% vol or higher; ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength (HS 2207); Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 80% vol; spirits, liqueurs and other spirituous beverages (HS 2208)

Proposal P1050 Pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages: Assessment Report (93 page(s), in English)

The proposal considers changing the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) to require mandatory pregnancy warning labels on packaged alcoholic beverages sold in Australia and New Zealand.

FSANZ undertook an assessment and developed a proposed variation to the Code. Standards affected are:

(a)        Standard 1.1.2 Definitions used throughout the Code;

(b)       Standard 1.2.1 Requirements to have labels or otherwise provide information, and;

(c)        2.7.1 Labelling of alcoholic beverages and food containing alcohol. The proposed variation requires a pregnancy warning label on most packaged alcoholic beverages with more than 1.15% alcohol by volume with prescribed legibility and format for the label. The pregnancy warning label includes a specified pictogram, signal words Health Warning and statement Any amount of alcohol can harm your baby. The location of the warning label is not prescribed. A 2 year transition period is provided, with an exemption for alcoholic beverages packaged and labelled before the end of the transition period from having to carry the pregnancy warning label.