Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) called on brewers to support proposals to improve pregnancy warning label color stipulations. In July 2020, the labeling regulations change, with a deadline of 2023, although some professionals have had technical problems printing the prescribed color scheme of red, black and white.
“It has become apparent that the standard ‘post print’ printing process for corrugated cartons used as outer packaging causes significant misalignment when printing the pregnancy warning in three colors.”said a request for amendment from the New Zealand Brewers Association, adding that “this makes the pregnancy warning difficult to read and reduces its effectiveness.”.
The Brewers Association, backed by the Independent Brewers Association of Australia and the New Zealand Brewers Guild, alleged printing problems so it requested the changes in June 2022, asking FSANZ to allow on-pack pregnancy warning labels to be in a single color on a contrasting background.
“There are no viable alternatives available to the entire industry for this type of packaging and printing for heavier formats containing multiple units of alcoholic beverages from the perspective of suitability, availability, cost or sustainability,” , the Association told FSANZ. “Therefore, a solution is needed to maintain the effectiveness of the pregnancy warning in these circumstances.” they added.
FSANZ is now planning a public consultation on the amendment, and the Brewers Association and IBA are urging brewers in both countries to write and communicate the challenges they face with color printing as they try to comply with the new rules.
