Labelling

Labelling-banner.jpg

ACCI Stands For:
Simple, Clear & Targeted Labelling

That balances consumer & industry needs

Policy Framework:

  • Meet minimum health, safety and environmental requirements
  • Be clear, simple and legible
  • Inform consumers of how the product should be used most effectively
  • Minimise compliance and ongoing costs
  • Be sufficiently flexible to allow for modifications, provided these are consistent with
    the desired outcomes of the labelling requirements, for example, when the required
    information does not fit on small or unusually shaped produce

Policy Objectives:

  • Labelling policies which engender confidence in Australia’s labelling laws by providing
    adequate consumer information and protection
  • Labelling policies which enable consumers to make an informed choice
  • Mandatory labelling requirements reserved for key attributes such as human health, while
    voluntary labelling of other attributes, under government or industry guidelines, where
    appropriate, should be encouraged. In all cases, the emphasis should be on creating
    competitive markets for quality attributes and providing reasonable consumer protection
  • Labelling requirements which are written in terms of outcomes and are performance
    based to facilitate flexibility in achieving the desired outcome
  • Nationally and internationally harmonised labelling requirements, where possible and
    appropriate
  • A regulatory 'one stop shop' which is capable of providing comprehensive advice
    on all labelling obligations
  • Believes that a single government agency should have responsibility for the development
    of labelling policies across industries and that this agency should be active in ensuring that
    labelling requirements are nationally consistent, valuable to consumers and do not impose
    unnecessary costs
  • Does not support calls for the origin of individual components to be listed in product labelling
  • Equitable enforcement of labelling laws irrespective of whether the product is imported or
    domestically produced, or the nature of the business
  • Labelling initiatives which ensure consistency between the treatment of country of origin
    claims domestically and in any bilateral agreements
  • Labelling initiatives which ensure that the current provisions in the Trade Practices Act
    relating to country of origin claims remain
  • These goals should be achieved while minimising costs to industry anc consumers
  • A national labelling policy should be developed which is consistent with the policies
    contained in this Labelling Policy