Country of origin food labelling resources

The specific origin label required for your food product will be determined by whether it:

• is a priority or non-priority food
• was grown, produced, made or packed in Australia.

There are two types of origin label:

• the standard mark
• a country of origin statement.

The standard mark has three components:

1. Kangaroo logo – tells consumers the product was grown, produced or made in Australia.
2. Bar chart – tells consumers the proportion of Australian ingredients, by ingoing weight.
3. Text – clarifies the origin, the bar chart and the minimum Australian content.

The standard mark must be in a clearly defined box.

Examples of the standard mark:

There are three variations of the standard mark:

• three component standard mark
• two component standard mark
• country of origin statement.

The three component standard mark is mandatory for priority foods grown, produced or made in Australia and includes:

• kangaroo logo
• bar chart
• text.

Example of the three component standard mark:

The three component standard mark can be modified for both portrait and landscape formats.

Please note: To edit these files you will need editing software such as Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Acrobat Pro.

The two component standard mark is required for most priority foods that are packed in Australia. Imported foods containing Australian ingredients may also use the two component standard mark. This label includes:

• bar chart
• text.

Example of the two component standard mark:

The two component standard mark can be modified for both portrait and landscape formats.

Please note: To edit these files you will need editing software such as Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Acrobat Pro.

A country of origin statement is a text explanation of where the food product came from. Products that can’t use or do not need to use the three- or two-component standard mark use a country or origin statement.

Imported priority foods must, as a minimum, carry a country of origin statement in a clearly defined box (the box is not required if the food is being sold unpackaged).

Example of a country of origin statement in a clearly defined box below:

The outline box is not required on imported non-priority food products. Example of label for imported non-priority food product: Product of Norway

Please note: To edit these files you will need editing software such as Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Acrobat Pro.

• Grown in Australia claims apply only when all ingredients are Australian.
• Produced in Australia claims apply only when virtually all ingredients are from, and virtually all of its major processing occurred in Australia.
• Made in Australia claims apply when the product underwent its last substantial transformation in Australia, regardless of the origin of its ingredients.

A food has been substantially transformed in a country when the end product is something fundamentally different to all of its imported ingredients.

Examples of the standard mark where the product has been grown, produced or made in Australia:

The standard mark for food products that were grown, produced or made in Australia and went overseas for some minor processing, require:

• the kangaroo logo
• a bar chart indicating the percentage of Australian ingredients
• text to confirm the origin claim, with bracketed text that describes the overseas minor processing and where it occurred (e.g. Shelled, sorted and packed in Fiji).

See the example of the standard mark for Australian products with minor processing overseas:

Where a priority food with ingredients from different countries is packed in Australia without substantial transformation (that is, the imported food undergoes only packaging or minor processing in Australia, such as sorting, slicing, canning, reconstitution or crumbing), the standard mark requires:

• a bar chart
• text stating ‘Packed in Australia’ and indicating the minimum percentage of Australian ingredients.

The example below shows the standard mark where the product is packed in Australia with Australian ingredients:

Australian content may be highlighted on imported food products. These labels will need:

• a bar chart
• text indicating the country the product was ‘made in’ and the minimum percentage of Australian ingredients.

See the example of the standard mark for imported products that highlights Australian content:

Labels for food products where the percentage of Australian ingredients varies throughout the year, may require:

• the kangaroo logo
• bar chart showing the average percentage of Australian ingredients
• text confirming the average proportion of Australian ingredients
• text indicating how to obtain more information.

See the examples of the standard mark showing average Australian ingredient percentages below:

Specific ingredients in a food product may be highlighted. These labels require:

• the kangaroo logo if the product was grown, produced or made in Australia
• a bar chart showing the minimum percentage of Australian ingredients
• text confirming the minimum percentage of Australian ingredients (if not 100%)
• text highlighting the ingredient (must be sourced from one country only).

See the examples of the standard mark that highlights specific ingredients below:

If you intend to design your own CoOL labels, we recommend adhering to the CoOL style guide. The guide provides information on:

• label components
• label placement
• label colours
• minimum sizes
• clear space
• incorrect label usages.