GS1 and Australian Made to promote CoOL laws

GS1 Australia and the Australian Made Campaign will collaborate to help the food and grocery sector deliver the new country of origin labelling (CoOL) information to consumers and retailers.

The Australian Government’s new food labelling legislation comes into effect on 1 July 2016, requiring food businesses selling food in Australian retail stores to begin using new, easy-to-understand food labels that clearly show where the food is grown, produced, made or packed.

To support the legislation, GS1 Australia and the Australian Made Campaign will establish a database of all food products made or grown in Australia and capture brand owner CoOL data on the National Product Catalogue, which shares product data in a single location.

The new food labelling will be phased in over two years to minimise the impact on food companies of the extensive relabelling requirements.

Maria Palazzolo, GS1 Australia’s CEO, said the collaboration supports the shared vision of protecting the Australian food supply chain and the safety of consumers.

“Today, people want to know where their food is grown, manufactured and packaged. The new labels will alleviate growing concerns about the quality and safety of the food they eat. Capturing and leveraging the CoOL data on the National Product Catalogue using GS1 standards will also allow for better visibility of product as it moves through the value chain.”