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Health Star Rating labels are not currently subject to a new mandatory display requirement under Proposal P1067. However, on 12 June 2026, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) opened its first call for submissions on a proposal to amend the Food Standards Code to require Health Star Rating display on foods sold in Australia and New Zealand. For Australian food manufacturers with broad packaged-food ranges, the proposal creates a practical reason to examine label artwork, template ownership and production workflows now.
FSANZ’s work plan identifies a further consultation period in September–October 2026, with a potential final decision pathway extending into 2027. This is a planning horizon, not a mandatory deadline. Businesses can use the assessment period to understand where future label changes may affect existing packaging, short-run production and variable-data labelling processes.
The food-labelling workflow affected by a Health Star Rating change
Food and beverage labels carry product information that supports traceability and market access, including allergen declarations, lot codes, expiry dates, nutritional information and barcodes. A potential Health Star Rating panel adds another artwork and approval consideration within an already controlled label environment.
The operational challenge is not simply adding a panel to one design. Manufacturers commonly manage multiple products, pack sizes, brands and distribution pathways. Where the same product information is represented across many label files, each change can create version-control pressure. Teams need to know which SKUs may be affected, which artwork is editable, who approves changes and how updated layouts will be released without mixing superseded and current label versions.
Readiness requirements for Australian food manufacturers
Build an affected-SKU view
A useful first step is to inventory foods that may fall within the future scope of the proposal and map the label formats used for each item. This helps packaging, regulatory, production and supply-chain teams identify whether a change would affect primary labels, cases, pallets or only selected product presentations.
Keep artwork and templates under control
Editable artwork and managed label templates support a more orderly response when layouts change. Define ownership for artwork updates and approval, retain a clear current version for each product, and consider how revised templates would be made available across relevant print locations. This can help avoid committing to packaging runs that may become outdated while the proposal is under assessment.
Separate fixed artwork from variable production data
Food labels often combine fixed content with information generated during production or distribution, such as lot codes, expiry dates and barcode data. A suitable workflow should preserve the approved label design while enabling the correct variable data to be applied at print time. BarTender supports automatic generation of lot codes and barcode data that can be synchronised with ERP or WMS systems for food and beverage operations.
How enterprise labelling software supports the workflow
Enterprise labelling software can provide a controlled way to manage approved templates while supporting on-demand labels where work occurs. BarTender is used for label, barcode, document and RFID-tag design, management and printing. Its centralised template approach is relevant where a future Health Star Rating artwork update needs to be consistently represented across a product range rather than recreated independently in numerous files.
BarTender Cloud Enterprise + 5 Printers Annual (Includes Standard MSA), SKU BTC-5-ENT-SUB-1YR, is a supporting example for organisations assessing a cloud-based labelling workflow across up to five printer identifiers. BarTender’s Enterprise Edition includes user and group authentication, which is relevant when access to approved label templates needs to be managed among different operational roles.
BarTender mobile capabilities can also support printing at the source of work through mobile devices, Bluetooth-connected printers or IP-connected network printers. For food operations, this capability is most relevant where current, approved label templates need to be available beyond a single fixed print station. The operational value depends on whether the site’s actual label-production process requires mobile or distributed printing.
Implementation decisions before selecting a workflow
A Health Star Rating readiness plan should distinguish artwork governance from physical printing requirements. The proposal concerns label display requirements under consideration; it does not by itself determine a printer, label material, print method or software edition. The right workflow depends on the number of printer identifiers, the locations where labels are produced, the need for controlled user access, and whether product and production data need to flow from connected business systems.
Manufacturers should also decide whether their immediate need is template control for revised SKUs, distributed on-demand printing, or a broader integration of label data with production, ERP or warehouse systems. BarTender can integrate label workflows with business systems, while BarTender Track & Trace is a separate capability for recording movement of ingredients, cases and pallets through food supply-chain operations. Track & Trace should be considered where item and lot movement visibility is required; it is not the same function as creating and printing labels.
Printer Power can help Australian food manufacturers assess an appropriate BarTender labelling workflow for their Health Star Rating preparation, including the practical fit between template governance, print locations and variable-data requirements. Contact our team to discuss a suitable approach for your product range and label-change planning.
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Contact our team to discuss a controlled labelling workflow for Health Star Rating change planning and food-label production.