Technical and Legal Documents

EPA Amendment For Breweries: Effective July 1, 2020 VIC ONLY

The new Environment Protection Amendment Act 2018 will change how Victoria regulates pollution, waste and contamination from businesses. 

What does this mean for breweries in Victoria?

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ABAC: NEw packaging guide

ABAC have shared their new Alcohol Packaging guide which focuses on the requirement that packaging NOT have strong or evident appeal to minors. Please note: all code standards must be met, bit this specific guide outlines packaging.

We're currently developing an advertising standard guideline to share with members that will help navigate all the regulatory bodies. We intent to also host training session - both online and in-person to help us feel confident in this area. Please download the new guide, review and share it with your marketing teams and designers. There's a checklist included to help understand what must NOT be included.  

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hop coa interpretation

Understanding hop analysis is key to producing beer of consistent quality. Hops are a natural ingredient produced by a highly specialised horticultural system in temperate regions around the world, which means they are subject to seasonal and batch-by-batch variations. Hop analysis gives brewers the opportunity to optimise their process to achieve consistency and efficiency.

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 CARBONATION BEST PRACTICE

This fact sheet will go through what carbonation is. How to achieve your desired level of carbonation. How to reliably measure your carbonation. And some tips and tricks for best practice. 

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BEST PRACTICE PACKAGING

Packaging is the last but often most-overlooked step in the brewing process even though it is the step where quality can go astray most easily. The following checks are common in most breweries and placed (subjectively) in order of descending priority.

Before embarking on implementing a quality program its integral to have sound hygiene and preventative maintenance programs in place. 

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Brewery Safety: IBA SAFE

Of course all of us want to ensure that safe working conditions are maintained for our employees and ourselves. But sometimes providing that safe working environment looks difficult. How do I make sense of those regulations? What are my legal obligations as an owner? What is it going to cost? How much down time will there be in the brewery? I think we have all been there. 

The Independent Brewers Association takes its role in working to make our industry safer very seriously and we have spent sometime exploring various options for a OHS product that is suitable and cost effective. We believe, that in Victual, we have found a partner who can help us deliver that. 

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COMMON BEER FAULTS

This fact sheet gives a brief introduction into some commonly occurring beer faults. As well as providing an overview of the basic fault identification methods as well as tips for their correction. 

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interpreting malt certificates of analysis

Understanding malt analysis is key to producing beer of consistent quality. Malt and barley are natural ingredients subject to batch-to-batch and seasonal variations. Malt analysis gives brewers the opportunity to optimise their process to achieve consistency and efficiency. 

Download the available fact sheet, and check out the recording of the IBA Mash Up "Malt Analysis and Efficiency" hosted by BeerCo with special guest Trevor Perryman from Malteurop Australia and Jon Seltin member of the IBA Quality Project Group talk about all things malt. 

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Labelling guidelines

The IBA has created the IBA Beer Labelling Guidelines and Logo Pack to help Independent Brewers comply with Australian beer labelling laws. The Guidelines have been created in consultation with members and stakeholders: including The Alcohol Beverage Advertising Code Scheme (ABAC), Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) and DrinkWise.

You will find brief instructions for using the Guidelines, how to use the Logo Pack and a link to FAQs to answer any questions you might have. 

HOW TO USE THE IBA BEER GUIDELINES

These guidelines apply to pre-packaged beer only, covering single unit (can/bottle), multi-pack and carton packaging.

These Guidelines are structured to ensure you consider:

  • Mandatory Label Information
  • Requirements for Optional Label Information
  • Additional Labelling Elements

We recommend that you print the PDF document on A3 paper and read through it in its entirety, so that you become familiar with the labelling requirements. Then, each time you plan to release a new packaged beer, print a copy of the relevant checklist(s) and tick off each element to ensure that your labelling is compliant. File the completed checklists as part of your compliance program. In accordance with the Guidelines you may need to use some logos on your labelling. For the benefit of our members, the IBA has brought together all the necessary logos in the Logo Pack.

HOW TO USE THE logo pack

The logo pack contains vector images to include on your packaging, along with basic instructions for your graphic designer. It is contained in a high-resolution EPX file and is intended to be opened and modified using graphic software such as Adobe illustrator.

The following logos are included;

  • Standard Drinks Logo
  • DrinkWise and Pregnancy Logos
  • Recycle Logo
  • Gross Weight Logo

The IBA Independence Seal is only available to current IBA Members. To use the IBA seal on your packaging, you need to be an IBA member and then register to use the seal. Check the SEAL menu tab for more information. 

the iba recall plan

The IBA has created the IBA Beer Recall Information Pack and Recall Plan to help Independent Brewers comply with Australian beer recall requirements. 

Below you will find brief instructions for using the Beer Recall Information Pack, how to use the Recall Plan and a link to FAQs to answer any questions you might have.

about these documents

The Beer Recall Information Pack contains a brief explanation of Australia's current food recall requirements. The Beer Recall Plan contains the following information:

  • Contact lists and other tables for you to pre-fill
  • Beer recall steps and checklists
  • Templates for you to use in the event of a recall

The headings in the Beer Recall information Pack correspond to the steps in the Beer Recall Plan. If you are unclear about any of the steps in the Beer Recall Plan, refer back to the Beer Recall information Pack to clarify.

how to use these documents

  1. Print the Beer Recall Information Pack and familiarise yourself with Beer Recall Requirements.
  2. Pre-fill the highlighted sections of the Beer Recall Plan with information that is relevant to your business.
  3. Print the Beer Recall Plan and complete the Preparedness Plan section of the document. Perform a mock recall to test the recall plan's efficiency and amend your plan if necessary.
  4. In the event of a recall, refer to your Beer Recall Plan and run through the sections as required. Refer back to the Beer Recall Information Pack if you require clarity on any particular steps.
  5. File completed recall plans for mock recalls and genuine recalls as part of your compliance process.