Product Overview

Summary: This Product Labelling Standard Operating Procedure sets out a clear, repeatable process for creating, approving and applying compliant labels to products sold or used in Australia. It helps your business meet regulatory requirements, protect end users, and maintain a consistent, professional brand presence across all packaging and containers.

Incorrect or inconsistent product labelling can expose Australian businesses to regulatory penalties, product recalls, brand damage and customer complaints. This Product Labelling Standard Operating Procedure provides a structured, end-to-end process that covers label content development, regulatory checks, artwork control, printing, application on the production line, and final verification before products leave your site. It is designed to support organisations that manufacture, package, re-pack or distribute products in Australia, including chemicals, food and beverage, consumer goods, and industrial products.

The procedure clarifies who is responsible for each step, how label information is sourced and verified, and what checks must be completed to ensure accuracy, legibility and durability. It helps your team integrate WHS, consumer law and industry-specific labelling requirements into a single, practical workflow. By standardising your labelling process, you reduce the risk of mislabelled products, improve traceability and recall readiness, and demonstrate due diligence to regulators, customers and auditors. This SOP also supports alignment between operations, WHS, quality and marketing teams, ensuring that safety information and branding are both correct and consistent.

Key Benefits

• Ensure product labels consistently meet Australian regulatory and WHS information requirements.
• Reduce the risk of mislabelling incidents, product recalls and customer complaints.
• Streamline collaboration between production, quality, WHS and marketing teams.
• Improve traceability and batch identification to support efficient investigations and recalls.
• Demonstrate due diligence and compliance during audits by regulators, clients and certification bodies.

Who is this for?

• Quality Assurance Managers
• Production Managers
• Packaging Supervisors
• Regulatory Affairs Officers
• WHS Managers
• Warehouse and Dispatch Supervisors
• Procurement Managers
• Small Business Owners and Directors
• Compliance and Risk Managers
• Marketing and Brand Managers

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 4.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 5.0 Label Information Requirements and Data Sources
• 6.0 Regulatory and WHS Compliance Checks
• 7.0 Artwork Creation, Review and Approval Process
• 8.0 Label Version Control and Document Management
• 9.0 Label Printing, Storage and Handling Requirements
• 10.0 Production Line Labelling Procedure
• 11.0 In-Process and Final Label Verification Checks
• 12.0 Nonconforming Labelling, Rework and Product Quarantine
• 13.0 Traceability, Batch Coding and Record Keeping
• 14.0 Training and Competency Requirements
• 15.0 Change Management for Label Updates and New Products
• 16.0 Internal Audits, Continuous Improvement and Corrective Actions
• 17.0 References and Supporting Documents
• 18.0 Document Control and Review History

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS legislation
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) – Hazardous chemicals labelling requirements
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals
• Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010)
• Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) – Food Standards Code (where applicable)
• Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 and associated regulations (where applicable)
• AS ISO 10002:2018 – Quality management – Customer satisfaction – Guidelines for complaints handling in organizations (supporting clear consumer information)
• AS/NZS ISO 9001:2016 – Quality management systems – Requirements