Food packaging rules and guidance

Food packaging must be:

• fit-for-purpose
• clean, intact, and in good condition
• able to protect food from contamination and deterioration during processing, storage, and transport
• suitable for the type of food, conditions of use, and shelf life.

About chemicals used in food packaging

Under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, chemicals with the potential to migrate from packaging must remain within safe limits. The Australia New Zealand Food Code Standard 1.4.1 specifies maximum limits allowed in foods for these chemicals (for example, for acrylonitrile and vinyl chloride used in the production of plastics). Where there are no specified limits for these chemicals, the packaging manufacturer or supplier must still ensure that the packaging material will keep the packaged food safe and suitable.

Australia New Zealand Food Code Standard 1.4.1 – Australian Government

For example:

• food components (for example, acidic foods, those high in fats)
• temperature (for example, heating, freezing)
• conditions of use (for example, microwaving, oven-roasting), and shelf-life storage.

Choose materials that are safe and suitable

• Use food-grade materials appropriate for the type of food, storage conditions, and shelf life.
• Ensure that the chosen packaging does not react with or contaminate food.
• Ensure packaging performs for the full shelf life of the product.
• Ask suppliers for documentation or assurance about the safety of packaging material.

Review your food packaging requirements

Review requirements for your packaging regularly to ensure it remains safe and fit for purpose.

Use packaging correctly

• Follow the manufacturer's instructions for use and storage.
• Don't reuse single-use packaging.
• Make sure foods are packaged so that food contamination or deterioration is prevented.
• Use packaging that is appropriate for the food manufacturers' directions on the package label (for example, microwavable packaging for food packages that will be heated in the microwave).

Manage reused and recycled packaging

• Only reuse packaging if it is designed for reuse and can be properly cleaned and sanitised.
• Ensure recycled materials are safe for food contact.
• Check the packaging regularly for wear and tear, and if found unsuitable, discard it.

Keep packaging clean and protected

• Store packaging appropriately, away from pests, dust, and chemicals.
• Only use clean and undamaged packaging.
• Follow good hygiene procedures during food packing, handling, and transport.

Packaging must:

• be identifiable by lot or batch information to allow for the ability to trace and recall products as required
• allow space for labelling information as required under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

Labelling information – Food Standards Australia New Zealand

Packaging can cause food to be unsafe or unsuitable if hazards associated with packaging are not properly managed.

Examples of physical hazards

• Fragments of glass, plastic, or metal and the like.
• Broken or torn packaging.

Example of biological hazards

• Contaminated, dirty, damaged, or improperly stored packaging

 Example of chemical hazards

• Substances transferring from packaging into food (migration), including additives or contaminants such as polyfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS), or bisphenol-A (both are examples of manufactured chemicals).

Find out more about chemical hazards

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, Schedule 19, contains specific limits on acrylonitrile and vinyl chloride, both chemicals that can occur in some types of plastics.

Food Standards Code legislation – Food Standards Australia New Zealand 

MPI studies have assessed the health risks from the presence of food packaging chemicals in the New Zealand diet and found no food safety concerns.

MPI study on risk of migration of packaging chemicals in New Zealand Foods [PDF, 591 KB]

New Zealand food packaging manufacturers have voluntarily committed to phasing out PFAS.

Phasing out hard-to-recycle and single-use plastics – Ministry for the Environment 

Plastic packaging, microplastics, and food safety