New country of origin food labels coming

SYDNEY, July 21 Australia will introduce mandatory country-of-origin food labelling from 2016, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Tuesday, a move given impetus by a hepatitis outbreak earlier in the year blamed on contaminated berries from China.

“This is a simple and straightforward initiative”, Mr Abbott said.

“Today is a major milestone that will not only support farmers who produce quality produce but will support Australian food manufacturers who have the highest standards in processing”, he said.

Companies will also be encouraged to provide more information on where significant ingredients, including milk, pork and certain vegetables, come from.

The green and gold triangle design was the overwhelming preference of more than 17,800 respondents to the government’s food labelling community survey.

The labels will start appearing in supermarkets before the end of the year, meaning consumers will no longer have to search for country of origin information hidden in small print.

Consumer groups have complained that labels that say “made in Australia” are confusing as they give the impression a product was grown in Australia when that might not be the case. Importing ingredients and simply slicing them will no longer qualify for a “made in” claim.

The Commonwealth Government will continue to work with the States and Territories, whose agreement is required to roll out the new labels.

“The proposed introduction of a diagram indicating the level of Australian and imported ingredients on products manufactured here will mean the only originating country outlined will be Australia”, deputy chief executive Andrew White said. There will be a phased implementation period for small business.

But the new rules come at a cost.

The statement said the new system would ensure products cannot be characterised as Made in Australia if they are grown overseas and repackaged here.

The cost of the new labels was expected to be passed on to consumers at a rate of 1¢ for $5 products, and 0.5¢ on $2.50 products.

Producers are increasingly emphasising their Australian credentials.

“This is a promise that’s been made by the Prime Minister, by myself (and) by Industry Minister (Ian) Macfarlane”.