Australian Packaging Compliance: Where to Start
Australian Made PackagingShare
Packaging compliance is not one universal checklist. The requirements depend on the product, the information printed on the pack, how it is sold and the jurisdictions involved. This guide is a starting point, not legal or regulatory advice.
Identify the product category first
Write down what the product is, where it will be sold, whether it is pre-packed, and whether special rules apply to food, dangerous goods, therapeutic goods, cosmetics, electrical products or other regulated categories. Product-specific rules should be checked before artwork or packaging is approved.
Check general labelling requirements
business.gov.au states that product-label information must be truthful, clear and accurate. Pre-packaged goods may need to comply with trade measurement laws, while some product categories have mandatory safety standards and warning requirements. Keep the source and approval for every required statement, symbol and measurement.
Food packaging needs a suitability check
Food Standards Australia New Zealand says food businesses must use packaging that is fit for its intended purpose, is unlikely to contaminate food and does not introduce contamination during packing. The food, temperature, storage time, heating, reuse and recycled-material content can all affect the assessment.
Country-of-origin claims must be accurate
Food products have specific country-of-origin labelling requirements. For other products, any voluntary origin statement still needs to be true, accurate and based on reasonable grounds. Terms such as “Made in Australia” have legal meanings; do not infer origin from the supplier’s location, company ownership or a product name.
Environmental claims need evidence and boundaries
The ACCC advises that environmental claims must be truthful and accurate, supported by clear evidence and qualified where conditions apply. Broad terms such as “green”, “environmentally friendly” and “eco-friendly” can mislead because they do not explain the actual benefit or limitation.
Describe the specific attribute instead—for example, a verified percentage of recycled content or a disposal pathway that applies under stated conditions—and retain the evidence used to approve the claim.
Do not treat the former 2025 targets as a current compliance shortcut
Australia is reforming packaging regulation. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water says the reform work is intended to improve packaging design and recovery, but decisions on parts of the future framework are still being developed. Check the current government position rather than presenting earlier voluntary targets as a new mandatory rule.
Keep a simple approval record
- product category and sales channel
- applicable regulator, standard or carrier requirement
- approved artwork and revision date
- evidence for origin, recycled-content or environmental claims
- packaging suitability or trial records
- person responsible for final approval
- date for the next review
When to get specialist advice
Seek appropriate regulatory, legal, food-safety, dangerous-goods or technical advice when the product is regulated, the claim is material to a purchasing decision, or the consequences of getting it wrong are significant.