On 13 August 2025, changes to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code were gazetted to mandate energy labelling on packaged alcoholic beverages.
What's changing?
- New labelling requirement: Most alcoholic beverages must display energy content information, known as an energy statement.
- Standardised energy statement: The statement must include energy content per serving, energy content per 100 mL, number of servings per package, the serving size and number of standard drinks per serving.
- Nutrition information panel (NIP): A NIP can be used instead of an energy statement, but must show the number of standard drinks per serving if there’s more than one serve.
What’s not changing?
- Claim requirements: Existing NIP requirements remain if nutrition content or health claims are made.
- Existing labelling requirements: Total standard drinks and alcohol content must still be displayed elsewhere on the label, as required by the Code.
- Exemptions: Energy labelling is not required for:
- small packages (less than 100 cm²)
- beverages already displaying a NIP
- beverages exempt from general labelling requirements.
- Transition period: From the date of gazettal, businesses have 3 years to comply with the new requirements.
Clarification on Sugar Claims
In addition, Standard 1.2.7 has been updated to clarify that nutrition content claims about carbohydrate and sugar content can be made on alcoholic beverages. You can review the change here.
What’s changing?
- Sugar claims: Updates to Standard 1.2.7 to clarify that nutrition content claims about sugar can be made on alcoholic beverages. However, claims about individual sugars, such as fructose, or other components of carbohydrate are prohibited.
What’s not changing?
Claim requirements: Existing nutrition information panel requirements remain if a nutrition content claim is made.
Carbohydrate claims: Remain permitted on alcoholic beverages, as long as they meet relevant conditions in the Code.
Prohibited claims: Health claims remain prohibited on alcoholic beverages, as do all other nutrition content claims except those about carbohydrate, sugar, energy and gluten.
Conditions for claims: Nutrition content claims must continue to meet relevant conditions in the Code and are subject to consumer and fair-trading laws.
