Important changes to the AMAG Code of Practice

Following formal approval by the federal Government, a number of changes to the rules for using the AMAG logo came into effect on 1 July 2014.

These include the introduction of a new basis for calculating the annual fee paid by licensees and the introduction of a Licensee Undertaking, which effectively replaces the Statutory Declaration previously required at the time of applying to use the logo or when further products were nominated.

Licensee fee now based on previous year’s sales
As of today, licence fees will be based on actual sales of licensed products for the previous 12 months rather than on projected sales over the next 12 months.

In addition, rather than being required to disclose their actual sales figure, licensees (or new applicants) will simply have to nominate one of 15 ranges that their sales turnover falls within. This will determine the fee payable.

For the majority of licensees (about 70%), their fees will remain unchanged, for a significant number (about 26%) the new fee will be lower, and for about 4% there will be a small increase in fee.

View the new fee schedule here.
 

Statutory declaration replaced by Licensee Undertaking
Up until 30 June, the AMAG Logo Code of Practice required the use of a Statutory Declaration when first applying for a licence or whenever a new product was added to the approved list.

The new Licensee Undertaking (in legal parlance this could be referred to as a Warranty and Indemnity) is essentially a guarantee that all licensees will abide by the rules for using the AMAG logo.

You will simply need to:

• Download it at the time you renew (it has been built into our online application and renewal processes;
• Have somebody who is authorised to sign documents for your organisation sign it in front of a witness (any adult can be a witness); and
• Send it in to AMCL (post, fax or email – hard copy not essential).

You will only need to do this once.

View the Licensee Undertaking here.

Other changes to the Code of Practice
Changing the AMAG Logo Code of Practice is a lengthy process and we have taken this opportunity to agree with Government some further amendments to the Code.

These include:

1. Expanding the list of processes which are not considered to be ‘substantial transformation’ for food products, to include:

• packaging or bottling,
• size reduction – cutting, dicing, grating, mincing, etc.,
• reconstituting – e.g. of fruit juice concentrate,
• pasteurisation,
• pickling,
• dehydrating/drying,
• fermentation – e.g. in the production of wine, cider or salami;

2. Moving the Rules for the ‘Australian’ descriptor from the appendix of the Code into the main body of the Code;

3. Updating the information on food labelling in line with recent changes to Food Standard 1.2.11; and

4. Expanding Rules 16 and 17 on termination of a licence.

All of these changes have taken effect as of Tuesday 1 July 2014.