Product Labelling and Packaging

Labelling Information

AUS-MEAT accredited suppliers apply product information on to a carton label using the AUS-MEAT objective descriptions and common meat language. The AUS-MEAT Language is understood by the processor, wholesaler and supplier which enables ordering of meat product to be more exact.

Generic Statement: Bone-in or Boneless and identification of species.
EAN Bar Code: Bar code that has been developed and complaint with the international meat industry guidelines.
Cascade Identification: Category cipher which identifies the Carcase age and sex.
Product Identification: Primal cut description
Symbol for Grain Fed: GFYG indicates the product has met the specification requirements for Grain Fed Young Beef Minimum Standards.
Packaging Type: IW/VAC indicates that the product is individually Wrapped and Vacuum Packed.
Aged: Indicates that the Product in the Carton is vacuum packed and held under controlled temperature condition for minimum period of 14 days before packing.
Primal Weight Range: Indicates that each primal cut in the carton is the minimum/maximum weight range as shown on the label.
Packed On Date: Indicates that day, month, year and time that the product was packed into the carton.

Best-Before Date: Means the packaged date is at the end of the period for meat stored in accordance with any stated continue to be sold after that date provided that the meat is not damaged, deteriorated or perished. Meat marked with "Use by" date is prohibited form being sold after this date.
Nett Weight: Meat content of the carton less all the packing material and shown to two decimal places in kilograms.
Carton Serial Number: Serial number is the same as shown in the bar code.
Refrigeration Statement: 'Keep Chilled' indicates that the product in the carton has been held in a controlled chilled condition from time of packing.
Country of Origin: This is an export requirement and is applied to all cartons form export establishments.
Al Stamp-Domestic: Australia Inspected (Al) stamp with DOMESTIC printed over the top indicates that the product has been identified for the domestic market. The Al stamp that has been cross hatched also indicates that the product has been identified for the domestic market.
Number of Pieces: Indicates the number of primal cuts in the carton.
Batch Number: This is an in-house company identification number of a production batch for product trace back purpose when required.
Company Code: In-house identification code for the product in the carton.
Company Trading Name: Indicates the trading name of the packer of the product.

Packaging Definitions

The AUS-MEAT language includes packaging symbols on labeling and denote different methods of packing of meat products. To define your packing requirements the symbols identifying those methods.

IW - INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED		TP - TRAY PACK
	Indicates that the product is individually wrapped in an approved material (sheet or bag). Intended use: Maintain separation of frozen product		Indicates that one or more portions of meat packed in an open container and covered with film. Intended use: Short shelf life for chilled product. (Ideal retail display.)
LP - LAYER PACKED		MW - MULTI-WRAPPED
	Indicates that the product is packed into a carton containing two or more layers of meat with each layer separated by an approved material. Intended use: Maintain separation of frozen product.		Indicates that the product has been packed in a single bag or covering and contains two or more cuts. Intended use: Cost effective when packing a small quantity of product i.e. more than one lamb rack.
VAC - VACUUM PACKED		MAP - MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING
	Indicated that the product has been packed in a special formulated bag - vacuum packed and sealed. When the symbol for vacuum packed appears after the packaging symbol this indicates that the product is vacuum packed e.g.: IW/VAC - LP/VAC - MW/VAC - TP/VAC. Intended use: Expended shelf life up to 12 weeks in controlled conditions.	Modified Atmosphere Packaging is another packaging technique. Instead of pulling a vacuum, packs are flushed with a mixture of gases. As with vacuum pack the film has to be impermeable to gases to retain the modified gas atmosphere around meat. Intended use: Extended retail shelf life. (Retail display).