Imported and domestically produced packaged alcoholic beverages required to bear a label for sale in Australia and New Zealand.

Proposal P1050 Pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages: Assessment Report

Following the gazettal of requirements for pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages on 31 July 2020, industry identified a technical issue with the printing of the pregnancy warning mark on corrugated cardboard packaging when using a post-print (flexographic) printing process and made an application to amend Standard 2.7.1 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Standard 2.7.1 requires a pregnancy warning mark to be in three colours (red, black and white). Most corrugated cardboard packaging used for alcoholic beverages is printed using a post-print process which can result in misalignment of the warning mark due to the three-colour requirement, making the label difficult to read thereby reducing effectiveness and risking non-compliance.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has approved an amendment to Standard 2.7.1 to permit an alternative pregnancy warning mark only for corrugated cardboard outer packages for retail sale that are printed using a post-print process and contain more than one individual unit of an alcoholic beverage. The alternative pregnancy warning mark has specific one-colour (black), contrast and size requirements as set out in Standard 2.7.1 which will ensure effectiveness of the labelling is maintained. The alternative pregnancy warning mark has been permitted to enable industry to resolve technical misalignment issues for a specific type of packaging in a cost-effective manner and to consistently comply with the Code.

Businesses have until 1 February 2024 to ensure post-printed corrugated carboard outer packaging containing more than one individual unit displays either the alternative or existing pregnancy warning mark.

The requirement for pregnancy warning labels on all other packaging and individual alcoholic beverage containers has not changed. The end of the transition period for all other packaging and individual containers to display pregnancy warning labels remains at 31 July 2023.