Please note that I am not in any way a legal expert. Therefore, this information should not be considered as legal advice in any shape or form, and if you are planning to start a business selling wax melts in Australia, you should consult with a qualified legal professional to ensure you comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
When selling products in Australia, it is important to ensure that you are complying with the country’s laws and regulations. This is especially true for small businesses that are operating online, as they may not be aware of all the legal requirements that apply to their products. In this blog post, we will be discussing Australian product labelling laws and regulations with regards to selling soy wax melts from an online small business.
Product labelling laws in Australia
Product labelling laws in Australia are governed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
These laws set out the requirements for product labelling, including what information must be included on the label, how it should be presented, and what claims can be made about the product.
Some of the key requirements for product labelling in Australia include:
- Product name: The product name must be accurate and reflect what the product actually is.
- Ingredients list: An ingredients list must be included on the label, with each ingredient listed in descending order of quantity.
- Net quantity: The net quantity of the product must be clearly indicated on the label, using metric units.
- Country of origin: The country of origin of the product must be clearly indicated on the label.
- Use-by or best-before date: If the product has a limited shelf life, a use-by or best-before date must be included on the label.
- Safety information: Any safety information or warnings must be included on the label, as well as any instructions for use.
- Claims and representations: Any claims or representations made about the product must be truthful and not misleading.
Regulations for selling soy wax melts
Soy wax melts are a popular product in Australia and are often sold by small businesses online. If you are planning to sell soy wax melts, there are a number of regulations that you need to be aware of.
- Ingredients: Soy wax melts are made from soy wax, which is a natural product. However, you may also need to include other ingredients, such as fragrance oils or colorants. All ingredients must be listed on the label in descending order of quantity.
- Fragrances: If you are using fragrance oils in your soy wax melts, you need to ensure that they are safe for use in candles and wax melts. Fragrance oils should comply with the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) standards, which set out the maximum safe usage levels for each fragrance.
- Safety: When selling soy wax melts, you need to ensure that they are safe to use. This includes ensuring that they do not pose a fire hazard, and that they are not toxic or harmful if ingested or inhaled. Any safety information or warnings must be included on the label.
- Claims: When making claims about your soy wax melts, you need to ensure that they are truthful and not misleading. For example, if you claim that your soy wax melts are “all-natural”, you need to ensure that all the ingredients are indeed natural.
Conclusion
Complying with product labelling laws and regulations is important for any business selling products in Australia. When selling soy wax melts online, you need to ensure that your products meet all the relevant requirements, including accurate labelling, compliance with safety standards, and truthful claims. By following these regulations, you can ensure that your business is operating legally and that your customers are receiving safe and accurate products.
Please remember that I am not a legal expert or qualified to offer any form of legal advice, this blog article is simply a discussion of my ideas.
Final note: If you find this aspect of small business confusing, take heart you are not alone. I have found it quite challenging to get my head around. I found it useful to simply email my questions to my local qualified legal advisor and recommend this as the go to solution.