Technical Team Update
Anthony Morgan Senior Technical Manager
GNFR & Home Essentials
General Manager - AFG Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance
Lauren Cook
Head of Food Safety - AFG
Operations
Mark Atherton-Ranson B2C
Head of TechnicalFood and Formulated Non Food Chandaka Ratnapala B2B
Core Fresh, Commodities & Beverages
Prepared, Convenience and Formulated Non Food
Chiller, Desserts & Bakery
Senior Technical Manager - Home Essentials and GNFR
Anthony Morgan B2C
Head of TechnicalFood / FNF Regulation & Compliance Paul Kelly AFG
Head of TechnicalAFG Food Safety & Quality Systems
Natalie Cook AFG
Home Essentials/ General Merchandise Continuous Improvement Policy & Regulatory
GNFR Quality System
Our products: Formulated Non-Food
Our products - Goods Not For Resale (GNFR)
Approved Certification Bodies
Our Formulated Non-Food Suppliers attending today
Our Goods Not For Resale Suppliers attending today
Deforestation & Sustainability Update
Rosie Cowie Planet Manager Group Sustainability
Jasmine Medwell Head of Planet Group Sustainability
SustainabilityOverview
Packaging
WoolworthsDecember2025OwnBrandPackaginggoals:
1. Recyclablepackaging
2. Averagerecycledcontent
3. Reductioninvirginplastic
4. Phaseoutproblematicpackaging(eg.PVC,EPS, blackplastic.OpaquePET)
Note:100%ARLwasachievedforallofOwnbrandbyDec 2023(>8000SKUsOwnbrandANZ)
Climate & No-Deforestation Ambition
Ourupdatedemissions(Scope1,2&3)reductiontargets includingourdeforestationaimarealignedtoglobalbest practice.
Weknowmanyotherretailers,aswellastradepartners& supplierstoWoolworthshavesimilartargetsandthisrequires collectiveefforttoachievenodeforestation.
Forformulatednonfood,thepolicydoesincludepalmoil derivatives.Weunderstandthecommoditiescanexistinmany forms.Additivesandprocessingaidsarenotinscopeofour target.
InF24weachieved67%palmoilnon-foodsourcedtoamass balancestandardandwanttocontinuetobuildonthis.
Ournewambitionisbuildingonourpreviousnet-deforestationaim
WoolworthsGroupaimstoachieveNo-DeforestationacrossourPrimaryDeforestation-Linked Commoditieswithatargetdateof31December2025.
ForWoolworths’OwnBrandthese commoditiesremainundertheexisting NET-ZERODeforestationpolicy
ForWoolworths’OwnBrand&VendorBrandthese commoditiesareunderournewNODeforestation policy
Cocoa Soyinfeedlivestock Palmoil (food& non-food) Paper,pulpandtimber (Product& Packaging)
Beef(in Australia)
Ourtargetdateis31December2025inmanufacture/production
Thetargetdateappliestowhenthecustomerfacingproductisbeingprocessedormanufactured;orto themanufactureofthepackaging,nottothedatetheproductispackagedorsold.
Commodity
PPTproduct
PPTpackaging
Examplesofwhatmeetingthepolicymeansinpractice
WeaimforpapertowelstouseNo-DeforestationPPTasaningredientinitsmanufacturing processfrom31Dec25
WeaimforpaperpackagingtocontainNo-DeforestationPPTinthepackaging manufacturingprocess(conversionofpaperintopackaging)from31Dec25
Cocoa
PalmOil
Soyinstockfeed
WeaimforchocolatebarstouseNo-Deforestationcocoaasaningredientinits manufacturingprocessfrom31Dec25
WeaimforHandwashcontainingglycerinesourcedfrompalm-oiltouseNo-Deforestation glycerineinitsmanufacturingprocessfrom31Dec25
WeaimforstockfeedcontainingsoythatisfedtoanimalstobefromNo-Deforestation sourcesfrom31Dec2025.
usefullinks: WoolworthsSustainableSourcingwebsite https://www.woolworthsgroup.com.au/au/en/our-impact/sustainab ility/Product/sustainable-sourcing.html Email-sustainablesourcing@woolworths.com.au
Supplier&TradePartnerInformationSessions-pleaseemail thesustainablesourcinginboxforfurtherinformationandto besentthetimes&datesofthenextsession
Supplier Excellence Program - Review
Anthony Morgan
Program Review
Purpose
Review and streamline the existing Supplier Excellence standard, make it easier to understand / follow for internal teams, CBs, and suppliers and update it to align with the latest industry practices and regulations
Where are we up to now
1 - Benchmark & Proposal
1-Sep ~ 20-Sep 2024
- Define points of improvement based on WSE program
- Brainstorming session based on feedback received from survey
2 - Draft & Finalization
23-Sep-2024 ~ 31-May- 2025
- GR/ COP / Guidelines Preparation
- Review and approval with Woolworths
- GR/ COP finalization / Guidelines
3 - Pilot & Training 1-Jun ~ 31-Jul- 2025
- Training of Auditors / Woolworths team/ Suppliers
- Piloting Onsite
Next Steps
➢ Complete all documents:
● Consumer Goods General Requirements
● Codes of Practices
● Guideline
➢ Amendment/ Change Table
➢ Translation in Mandarin, Vietnamese, Hindi & Bangla
➢ Training materials and recording of training sessions
➢ Analysis report of Pilot audit
➢ Implementation/ Roll out of the revised Woolworths Supplier
Excellence Program
Withdrawal & Recall Process & Expectations
Anthony Morgan Senior Technical Manager
GNFR & Home Essentials
Aren’t recalls & withdrawals the same thing?
For Own Brand products (that aren’t regulated by the TGA or APVMA)
Woolworths is the sponsor of a recall. We will liaise with the regulator.
Woolies Recall / Withdrawal Process
Supplier loads details into Woolworths PWRM or GS1 (Local Suppliers Only)
Sponsor identifies need for recall / withdrawal Sponsor notifies home state regulator
actions regulator recall notification
verifies and circulates recall
Eventcanbetriggeredbythesupplieror Woolworths.Fornon-TGAandnon-APVMA products,Woolworthsisthesponsorandshall liaisewiththeregulators
CallyourWooliescontactsasearlyaspossible -TechnicalSpecialist/Manager
Provide data for completion of regulator interim report
Returningproducttoshelfwilloccur whenweareconfidentnoimpacted stockremainsinoursupplychainand thereisnolikelihoodoftheissue recurring Cost:$79perstore
Themoreaccurate&completethe informationprovidedallowsustobetter identifyimpactedDCs&stores,therefore minimisingthecostimpact.
& action retro
data for completion of regulator FINAL report
Informationfromsuppliers needed Stepsforarecallonly
We bring science and safety expertise to help partners deliver safe, compliant products
System blocks automatically get put in place based on event / instructions. When a recall is issued, the below occurs:
- Point of Sale (Checkout) preventing in-store sales
- Removal from online sale channels
- Prevention of stock from moving in our Supply Chain
Withacomplexlogisticsanddistribution networkutilisingroad,railandbargesdeliveriesintostorescantakedays.
Duringweathereventsleadtimescanbe upto14days
Set Yourself Up For Success
An issue can be identified by supplier, Woolworths team, external party (e.g. regulator)
Get in contact with your Technical Specialist as soon as possible! Keep those contact lists up to date.
Risk & Impact
Your Technical Specialist will do a risk and impact assessment to determine the appropriate action.
For Own Brand products recalls (excluding TGA & APVMA), we are the sponsor so will liaise with regulators.
Loading of Information
We require our local suppliers to load information into our product recall withdrawal management system (PWRM) or GS1.
Accurate & complete information, including:
- Article numbers
- Batch / dates affected & quantity
- PO numbers & DCs that received them
- Are other Woolworths BUs affected? (i.e. Metro, NZ)
Check your system access!
Can you always access the system even when key people are on leave?
Do your processes detail how to use the system?
Return to Shelf
When returning stock to shelf we need to consider:
- Has our supply chain been cleared of affected stock?
- Do we have confidence that we will be receiving non-impacted stock
The closing of a recall / withdrawal will include:
- Assessment of corrective actions by our Technical team
- Formal root cause analysis for significant events
- Finalising information for regulators
Work with your Technical Specialist to have appropriate and robust corrective & preventive actions
Review your recall / withdrawal process and update with any key learnings.
Continue to prepare through mock events (including testing different scenarios & your system access)
Key Takeaways
Get in touch with us as soon as possible when an issue is identified. Keep those contact lists up to date!
Resources
NEW! Own Brand Vendor Manual
Partner Hub Guides to loading a case in PWRM
Accurate and complete information will ensure a smooth recall / withdrawal
Set yourselves up for success by having detailed processes to support your team and prepare well by conducting mock events
User Contacts in Partner Hub
Supplier Excellence Standard (SEP.022 / SEP.030 Section 9)
Regulator Guidances: ACCC TGA APVMA
:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GsYJZXoA2LeOTMwHN8QYAkImTSXaf14A/view?usp=drive_
Policy and Regulatory Team
Major Regulators in Australia
We bring science and safety expertise to help partners deliver safe, compliant products
Mandatory Safety & Information Standards
● Certain products must meet mandatory safety and Information standards before they can be sold in Australia.
● The mandatory safety and information standards specify the minimum requirements that certain products must meet before they can be legally supplied in Australia. They ensure that products are safe for their intended use and provide consumers with necessary information to make informed purchasing decisions
Mandatory Safety & Information Standards
● Additionally, Australia has permanent or interim bans on specific products deemed unsafe and posing a high risk of serious injury, illness, or death. These bans prohibit the supply, and in some cases, the manufacture, possession, or control of these products
● These include:
○ small high-powered magnets
○ combustible candle holders are banned
○ Mini jelly cups containing konjak
○ Candles with lead wicks
○ DEHP in children’s plastic items
○ Novelty cigarette lighters
○ Sky lanterns
ACCC Enforcement Priorities 2025/26
The enforcement priorities for this year are broadly similar to the enforcement priorities we discussed at the Roadshow last year
● Product safety has an enduring priority for product safety issues which have the potential to cause serious harm to consumers
● Environmental claims with a focus on greenwashing
● Competition issues in the supermarket and retail sector, focussing on firms with market power and conduct that impacts small business.
● Consumer and fair trading concerns in the supermarket and retail sectors, with a focus on misleading pricing practices.
● Competition, product safety, consumer and fair trading issues in the digital economy, with a focus on misleading or deceptive advertising.
ACCC Enforcement Priorities 2025/26
● Consumer product safety issues for young children, with a focus on compliance with button battery standards and raising awareness about new infant sleep and toppling furniture standards.
● Promoting competition in essential services with a focus on telecommunications, electricity, and gas.
The full list of enforcement priorities:
https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/compliance-enforcement-priorities-2025-26-thumb.pd f
Product Claims/Greenwashing
● Product claims and greenwashing are significant market issues in consumer protection
● Product claims are statements made by businesses about the features, quality, performance, composition, benefits, or origin of their goods.
● The claims can be stated directly on packaging or in advertising or created through imagery, branding, or overall presentation
We bring science and safety expertise to help partners deliver safe, compliant products
Product Claims/Greenwashing
● Under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), these claims must be accurate, truthful, and based on reasonable grounds.
● Greenwashing : making false, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims about the environmental benefits of a product.
● It's a deceptive marketing tactic used to create a perception of environmental responsibility, often to capitalize on consumers' growing preference
