Pregnancy warning labels – design elements and downloadable labels

Standard 1.1.2 – Definitions used throughout the Code 

New definitions related to pregnancy warning labelling have been added to subsection 1.1.2—2(3). These include the terms: 

• Individual unit 

• Pregnancy warning label 

• Pregnancy warning mark 

• Pregnancy warning pictogram 

• Prescribed alcoholic beverage 

Standard 2.7.1 – Labelling of alcoholic beverages and food containing alcohol 

Standard 2.7.1 has been amended from both Proposal P1050 (Pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages) and Application A1256 (Colour of pregnancy warning labels for corrugated cardboard packaging). 

See, in particular, Division 4. 

Note: Existing requirements in the Code may also apply to pregnancy warning labelling. 

You can view the amended Standards in the Code for more detail (these links will take you to an external website). 

• Standard 1.1.2 – Definitions used throughout the Code 

• Standard 2.7.1 – Labelling of alcoholic beverages and food containing alcohol 

Yes, there are. 

Read the explanatory statement for P1050

Read the explanatory statement for A1256

Packaged alcoholic beverages with more than 1.15% alcohol by volume for retail sale in Australia and New Zealand (or sold as suitable for retail sale without any further processing, packaging or labelling) must display a pregnancy warning label – with one exception: when the beverage is packaged in the presence of the purchaser. In this case, it doesn’t need a pregnancy warning label. This includes, for example: 

• wine or beer served in a glass at a restaurant or bar 

• fill your own container at a bottle store 

• additional packaging applied in the presence of the retail purchaser. 

The requirement to display a pregnancy warning label applies to, for example, relevant packaged alcoholic beverages that are: 

• made and packaged on the premises where they are offered for retail sale 

• delivered packaged and ready to consume at the request of the retail purchaser 

• sold at a fund-raising event 

• displayed in an assisted service display cabinet 

• sold from a vending machine 

• sold at retail in a hamper. 

Find the references in the Code (these links will take you to an external website): 

• definition of ‘prescribed alcoholic beverage’ in subsection 1.1.2—2(3) 

• section 2.7.1—8 

• definition of ‘package’ in subsection 1.1.2—2(3). 

Requirements for pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages were gazetted in the Code on 31 July, 2020 with a three-year transition period ending on 31 July 2023. In addition, optional alternative requirements for pregnancy warning labels for corrugated cardboard outer packaging were gazetted in the Code on 4 May 2023.  

Businesses have until 1 February 2024 to ensure post-printed corrugated cardboard outer packaging, containing more than one individual unit of an alcoholic beverage, displays either the existing or optional alternative pregnancy warning label. Alcoholic beverages in such corrugated cardboard outer packaging that is labelled before the end of the transition period (i.e. before 2 February 2024) may be sold without the pregnancy warning label. 

For all other packaging and individual containers, businesses must comply with the pregnancy warning labelling requirements, noting an alcoholic beverage produced and labelled before 31 July 2023, can comply with the Code either before or after requirements for pregnancy warning labels were gazetted (31 July 2020). 

Refer to section 4 of the Code variations from Proposal P1050 and Application A1256.  

Yes, they do. All packaged alcoholic beverages with more than 1.15% alcohol by volume for retail sale in Australia and New Zealand must have a pregnancy warning label. 

No, it doesn’t - but you do have to also add the local pregnancy warning label. It’s okay to have both at the same time. 

Yes, the Code doesn’t prohibit the use of stickers for providing labelling information. The warning label is required on the product when it’s available for retail sale. 

No, it can be put anywhere on the beverage label. 

No, they don’t. A pregnancy warning label is only required on packaged alcoholic beverages for retail sale. 

If a beverage sold to a caterer is then sold for retail sale it would need to display the warning label, unless an exemption applied such as it being packaged in the presence of the purchaser. 

Yes, if the multipack or box containing an individual unit is for retail sale. The outer package is the outer-most layer of packaging for retail sale. 

For example, a pregnancy warning label must be displayed on these if they are presented for retail sale: 

• for a box containing a bottle of wine: on the box and on the bottle of wine 

• for a carton containing multiple bottles of wine: on the carton and on each bottle of wine 

• for a pack containing multiple bottles/cans of beer (such as a ‘six pack’), on the pack and on each bottle/can of beer. 

There are two exemptions to this requirement. A pregnancy warning label is not required on: 

• an outer package if a pregnancy warning label on an individual unit can be clearly seen and is not obscured by the outer package. For example, when clear wrapping is used around a bottle of wine, or plastic rings around six pack of beer 

• a bladder inside a box of a prescribed alcoholic beverage – for example, the bladder inside a cask of wine. 

Note: any packaging between the outer package and individual units, for example, tissue paper, does not need to display a pregnancy warning label. 

Find the reference in the Code (this link will take you to an external website): 

• section 2.7.1—8 

No. Only packaging used for retail sale must display pregnancy warning labelling. Find the reference in the Code (these links will take you to an external website): 

• definition of ‘prescribed alcoholic beverage’ in section 1.1.2—2(3) 

• section 2.7.1—8. 

This depends on the volume of the prescribed alcoholic beverage, and whether the label is for a beverage container or outer packaging. 

There are three types of pregnancy warning labels: 

Pregnancy warning mark 

Must be displayed on a prescribed alcoholic beverage with a volume over 200 ml 

Optional alternative pregnancy warning mark 

Pregnancy warning pictogram 

Must be displayed on a prescribed alcoholic beverage with a volume not over 200 ml 

The outer package of an individual unit with a volume not over 200 ml must show the pregnancy warning pictogram, while the outer package of an individual unit with a volume over 200ml must show the pregnancy warning mark. 

The pregnancy warning mark or where applicable, the optional alternative pregnancy warning mark, must be shown on an outer package with more than one individual unit, no matter what volume is contained in each individual unit. For example: 

• A single bottle of spirits with a volume of not more than 200 ml contained in an outer box must have a pregnancy warning pictogram on the outer packaging. 

• Two 100ml bottles of liqueur contained in a box must have a pregnancy warning pictogram shown on each 100 ml bottle of liqueur. A pregnancy warning mark must be shown on the outer packaging (box). 

• A 1L bottle of spirits and a 100ml bottle of liqueur contained in a box must show a pregnancy warning mark on the 1 L bottle, and a pregnancy warning pictogram on the 100ml bottle. A pregnancy warning mark must also be shown on the outer packaging (box). 

Find the references in the Code (these links will take you to an external website): 

• section 2.7.1—8 

• tables to 2.7.1 subsections 9(3), 10(1) and (3), and 11(1) and (3) 

• section 2.7.1—13. 

Yes it does, because there are minimum size requirements. 

The minimum size requirements for a pregnancy warning label on an alcoholic beverage with one layer of packaging – for example, in a bottle or can - depend on the volume of beverage. 

There are also minimum size requirements for a pregnancy warning label on: 

• the outer packaging of alcoholic beverages 

• on individual units of alcoholic beverages inside a box or multipack. 

These requirements also depend on the volume of the alcoholic beverage concerned. Find the reference in the Code (these links will take you to an external website): 

• tables to 2.7.1 subsections 9(2) and (3); 10(2) and (3); 11(2) and (3) 

• subsections 2.7.1—13 (3), (4) and (5). 

Yes. There are requirements for the following label design elements, including: 

• text of the signal words and statement in the pregnancy warning mark 

• form of the pictogram 

• colour of text, elements of pictogram and pregnancy warning mark, and label background 

• font type and case 

• language 

• border and clear space around the pregnancy warning mark. 

Find the reference in the Code (these links will take you to an external website): 

• definitions of ‘pregnancy warning mark’ and ‘pregnancy warning pictogram’ in subsection 1.1.2—2(3) 

• section 2.7.1—12 

• section 2.7.1—13. 

Yes. For the optional alternative pregnancy warning mark: 

• the signal words, statement and border of the pregnancy warning mark and the circle, strikethrough and silhouette of a pregnant woman of the pregnancy warning pictogram, must all be in the colour black 

• the background must be in the same colour as the outside liner made of kraft, recycled or white paper, the colours of which are brown, grey or white 

• the strikethrough of the pregnancy warning pictogram must be displayed with a clear space on either side of the strikethrough so both the strikethrough and the silhouette of a pregnant woman are clearly legible. 

Find the reference in the Code (this link will take you to an external website): 

• subsections 2.7.1—13 (2), (6) and (9).