Following amendments to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code in 2021, the transition to Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) has now reached its final milestone.
The PEAL requirements were introduced under Proposal P1044 and incorporated into Standard 1.2.3 – Information requirements – warning statements, advisory statements and declarations of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. These changes aimed to improve the clarity and consistency of allergen information for consumers across Australia and New Zealand.
Transition and stock-in-trade period
Food businesses were provided with:
- a three-year transition period from 25 February 2021 to 25 February 2024, followed by
- a two-year stock-in-trade period, allowing foods packaged and labelled before the transition deadline to continue to be sold.
The stock-in-trade period ended on 26 February 2026. From 27th February 2026, packaged foods available for sale should now comply with the PEAL requirements.
What this means for consumers
With industry now having completed label updates, consumers can benefit from a more consistent and accessible approach to allergen declaration. PEAL delivers:
- consistent formatting of allergens within ingredient lists
- prescribed plain-english allergen names
- bolded allergen declarations for improved visibility
- standardised wording and presentation, including allergen summary statements.
These changes are designed to make allergen information easier to locate and understand, supporting informed food choices for people with food allergies.
Support for businesses
Food businesses who import should note that DAFF have commenced actively enforcing PEAL requirements on imported food under the IFIS.
Businesses seeking guidance on producing PEAL-compliant labels can access several practical resources:
- Food Industry Guide to Allergen Management and Labelling (FIGAML) — available via the Allergen Bureau website.
- The NSW Food Authority Food Labelling Assistant, which helps generate compliant packaged food labels.
- Additional information on food allergens is available through the FSANZ Food Allergen Portal.
The completion of the PEAL implementation represents a significant milestone for the food industry and regulators alike. With consistent allergen labelling now expected across packaged foods, the updated framework will help to strengthen consumer confidence and support clear communication of allergen risks.
