the pregnancy health products do not warning labels. display the pregnancy warning labels may continue. Option 2: Mandated through the Australia elements of alcohol labels are Mandatory labelling could Cost to industry for Any new New Zealand Food Standards under Parts 1.2 and 2.7 of overcome the identified compliance. In mandatory Code. The prescribed warning the Code, including: barriers to pregnancy particular, the labelling label would be the one shown to be alcohol by volume warning labels, and Australian requirements most effective (see section 4) and standard drink labelling maintain or increase evaluation noted may have may include a warning pictogram, specific representations about current levels of labelling that, for smaller implications. or text or both. alcoholic beverages (e.g. low coverage. packages (e.g. However, there alcohol) 50ml bottles) it are clear public If this were to be introduced, it nutrition information The second Australian may not be health reasons would be more efficient and requirements (when a claim is evaluation reported that physically possible for having this to do so at the same time made regarding energy, both industry and public to accommodate a labelling, and as any other changes to alcohol carbohydrate or gluten). health sectors support a pregnancy health some countries labelling. minimum standard set by warning without (such as France) government for consistent substantial change have mandated Transition period included to content, size, and to the current pregnancy time for industry to adopt new placement to be applied to package / labelling. warning labels regulations and reduce costs the pregnancy health and pictogram. associated with labelling changes. warning labels. Increased workload There could also for regulators. be allowances All consumers of alcohol made for other will be provided with Does not countries consistent, understandable acknowledge messaging, e.g. if messages about not strong industry there is a drinking alcohol during efforts to introduce mandatory pregnancy. If this translates pregnancy warning message
the pregnancy health warning labels. products do not display the pregnancy warning labels may continue. Option 2: Mandated through the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The prescribed warning label would be the one shown to be most effective (see section 4) and may include a warning pictogram, or text or both. If this were to be introduced, it would be more efficient and to do so at the same time as any other changes to alcohol labelling. Transition period included to time for industry to adopt new regulations and reduce costs associated with labelling changes. elements of alcohol labels are under Parts 1.2 and 2.7 of the Code, including: alcohol by volume standard drink labelling specific representations about alcoholic beverages (e.g. low alcohol) nutrition information requirements (when a claim is made regarding energy, carbohydrate or gluten). Mandatory labelling could overcome the identified barriers to pregnancy warning labels, and maintain or increase current levels of labelling coverage. The second Australian evaluation reported that both industry and public health sectors support a minimum standard set by government for consistent content, size, and placement to be applied to the pregnancy health warning labels. All consumers of alcohol will be provided with consistent, understandable messages about not drinking alcohol during pregnancy. If this translates Cost to industry for compliance. In particular, the Australian evaluation noted that, for smaller packages (e.g. 50ml bottles) it may not be physically possible to accommodate a pregnancy health warning without substantial change to the current package / labelling. Increased workload for regulators. Does not acknowledge strong industry efforts to introduce pregnancy Any new mandatory labelling requirements may have implications. However, there are clear public health reasons for having this labelling, and some countries (such as France) have mandated pregnancy warning labels and pictogram. There could also be allowances made for other countries messaging, e.g. if there is a mandatory warning message
consultation_regulation_impact_statement_-_pregnancy_warning_labels_on_packaged_alcohol_beverages.docx