If you are planning to sell through retail in New Zealand or Australia, your packaging needs to meet requirements set by both regulators and retailers. Getting this wrong means either products pulled from shelves, expensive repackaging, or rejected listings. Here is what you need to know before you finalise your packaging design.
Regulatory Requirements
Products sold in NZ and Australia must carry specific regulatory markings. For electrical and electronic products, the RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark) is required. Products making specific health or safety claims may be subject to additional requirements. Country of origin labelling is required for food products. Flammability warnings are required for relevant product categories.
The applicable requirements depend on your product category. Identifying them early and designing them into your packaging avoids expensive artwork changes later.
Retailer Requirements
Major NZ and Australian retailers have their own packaging specifications that suppliers must meet. These typically cover: barcode placement and type (EAN-13 is standard in NZ and AU), minimum and maximum package dimensions for shelf and storage, weight limits for hanging or shelf display, country of origin declarations, and specific information requirements for the product category.
If you are targeting a specific retail chain, request their supplier packaging guide before finalising your design. The requirements vary by retailer and product category.
Planogram Considerations
Retailers plan shelf layouts using planograms: detailed diagrams of how products are arranged on shelves. Your packaging dimensions need to work within standard planogram formats. Unusual dimensions can make your product harder to place on shelf or disadvantage it in planogram reviews.
Understanding how your product will be displayed before finalising packaging dimensions is part of designing for retail success.
Sustainable Packaging Trends
NZ and Australian retailers are increasingly requiring suppliers to meet sustainability targets for packaging. This includes reducing excess packaging, using recyclable or compostable materials, and eliminating specific materials like PVC. If you are designing packaging for these markets, understanding the direction of travel on sustainability requirements is important.
