17 February 2020: After eight years of obstruction by the alcohol industry, mandatory pregnancy health warnings on all alcoholic products have been submitted for final approval.
The National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (NOFASD) and the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) strongly support the FSANZ proposal on pregnancy warning labels submitted to Food Ministers today.
Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) took action to legislate pregnancy warning labels in 2018, after the alcohol industry’s voluntary labelling scheme was exposed as an abject failure, with warning labels appearing on only 52 per cent of alcohol products.
“Women have a right to be informed about the harm that alcohol can cause to unborn children, including miscarriages, stillbirths, low birth weights and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD),” said NOFASD CEO Louise Gray.
“NOFASD’s vision is the prevention of alcohol exposed pregnancies in Australia, and an improved quality of life for those affected by FASD, including those living with FASD and their parents. The introduction of effective warning labels is an important step to realising that vision,” Said Ms Gray.
The FSANZ consumer testing of the industry’s opaque message indicated that overall for women both in Australia and New Zealand, the statement, it is safest not to drink while pregnant, performed least well of the four statements tested in conveying the message not to drink alcohol while pregnant. It also performed least well in terms of its believability, credibility and convincingness.
FARE Director of Policy, Trish Hepworth said “The National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) 2016, found that 25 per cent of women consumed alcohol after becoming aware of the pregnancy, and 49 per cent drank before being aware of their pregnancy,”[i] she said.
Ms Hepworth says this hugely significant step will help protect future generations of Australians, and FSANZ has concluded that the human and financial benefits will far outweigh the relatively small cost of introducing this scheme.
“Today’s decision heralds the end to the alcohol industry’s failed voluntary efforts that served only to mislead and confuse consumers,” Ms Hepworth said.
Trish Hepworth is available for interview.
Media contact:
Clare Ross 02 6122 8616 or 0429 291120
Food Standards Australia and New Zealand has released a draft new label for all alcohol bottles over 200ml, with HEALTH WARNING in red, a graphic, and the message: “Any amount of alcohol can harm your baby”.
Australian and New Zealand Health and Food Ministers are now considering the proposal. To add your support for mandatory health warnings follow this link to FARE’s campaign page.
Read more on the Food Standards website
Read more NOFASD Australia blogs
4 Responses
At, last after 8 years, good sense has prevailed over the efforts of the alcohol industry to keep people in the dark about potential harm if pregnant mum’s drink. If only one baby is saved from brain damage, this is worth the compulsory labelling effort. Congratulations to all those who have fought for this outcome for so long. It is one more step in the right direction.
Is the alcohol industry going to compensate families for the damage? the tobacco industry had to compensate. they need to give millions to hospitals for babies and prisons to help FASD people in them. They need to stop producing teenager alcohol sugar drinks. lessen the alcohol percentage and extremely controlled.
Shared on FB & Twitter.
Thank you for sharing!