P1044 - Plain English Allergen Labelling

New requirements for the labelling of allergens in food come into force on 25 February 2024. These requirements were developed through FSANZ Proposal P1044 – Plain English Allergen Labelling. 

The new requirements include that allergen information is to be declared:

in a specific format and location on food labels, and 
using simple, plain English terms in bold font.

The changes will help people find allergen information on food labels more quickly and easily, so they can make informed and safe food choices. 

To find out more about the requirements for allergen labelling, please visit one of the pages below.

Visit our allergen labelling for consumers page.

Visit our allergen labelling for businesses page.

Why we did this work

Certain foods and ingredients can cause severe allergic and other adverse reactions in some people. The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) requires these to be declared on labels when they are present in food.  

In 2017 FSANZ prepared P1044 to consider changes to the Code to make allergen information clearer and more consistent, including through the use of plain English.  

FSANZ's assessment of P1044 had regard to best available scientific evidence, stakeholder views, and costs and benefits. As part of this work, FSANZ undertook a literature review, safety assessment and two rounds of public consultation. 

P1044 reports and supporting documents are available below.

Approval

P1044 Approval Report (PDF 1.2 mb)

Call for submissions

2nd Call for submissions - 29 November 2019 (PDF 926 kb)

Supporting Document 1 - Summary of submissions (PDF 1 mb)
Supporting Document 2 - Consumer Literature Review (PDF 1.3 mb)
Supporting Document 3 - Safety Risk Assessment (PDF 976 kb) 
Supporting Document 4 - Costs and Benefits (PDF 686 kb) 
Submissions (Zip 24.7 mb)

1st Call for submissions - 1 March 2018 (PDF 920 kb) 

Supporting Document 1 - Safety Risk assessment (PDF 836 kb) 
Supporting Document 2 - Consumer understanding, attitudes and behaviour in relation to food allergen labelling (PDF  717 kb) 
Submissions (ZIP 24MB)

Supporting documents

Supporting Document 1 - Consumer Literature Review (PDF 1.3 mb)
Supporting Document 2 - Safety Assessment (PDF 1.05 mb)
Supporting Document 3 - Consideration of Costs and Benefits (PDF 902 kb) 
Administrative Assessment Report - 6 January 2017 (PDF 110 kb)

Previous work on plain English allergen labelling

In 2006 Ministers asked FSANZ to undertake a review of the regulatory management of food allergens. FSANZ published the findings of this review in 2010. Read the review report.

In 2016, FSANZ completed a review into the terminology used to declare allergens on food labels. FSANZ consulted targeted key stakeholders involved in food allergen management as part of the review.

Read the full report of the review (PDF 61kb) 

Supporting Document 1 - Qualitative survey of allergen labelling (PDF 664 kb) 
Supporting Document 2 - Summary of submissions (PDF 490 kb) 
Summary of issues raised in submissions (PDF 521 kb) 
Submissions (Zip 16.1 mb)

The results of these reviews informed our work on Proposal P1044.