Call for comment on proposed amendments to pregnancy warning labels on corrugated cardboard packaging of alcoholic beverage
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment onan application to permit pregnancy warning marks on corrugated cardboard packaging to be in a single colour on a contrasting background.
The applicant is seeking the changes to addressa technical printing issuewhich results in misalignment of the three-colour pregnancy warning mark on corrugated cardboard packaging, making it difficult to read and reducing effectiveness.Corrugated cardboard is typically used to packagemultiple cans or bottles of alcoholic beverages.
The proposed changes would allow an alternative larger pregnancy warning mark to be printedon corrugated cardboard outer packaging when a post-print (flexographic) process is used. The current three-colour mark will remain a requirement for all other packaging and single units of alcohol.
Pregnancy warning labels are an important part of increasing awareness of the risks of drinking alcohol while pregnant. Currently, warning labels on all packaged alcoholic beverages will be required from 1 August 2023.
The period for comment closes at 6pm (Canberra time) on 16 November 2022.
What happens with my feedback?
We will publish all submissions to our website as soon as possible at the end of the public comment period.
All feedback will be considered by FSANZ before making a decision on whether to approve the application/proposal.
Our decision will be notified to ministers responsible for food regulation who can ask for a review or agree to include the amendment in the Code.
