ANZFA seeks comment on country of origin food labelling for

Australia and New Zealand

The Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) today released an issues paper calling for public comments on country of origin labelling of food in Australia and New Zealand.

ANZFA Managing Director, Mr Ian Lindenmayer, said the release of the issues paper was an opportunity for stakeholders and the public to provide ANZFA with comments about their views on country of origin labelling and the approach they would like to see in operation in the future.

' Existing Australian food standards governing country of origin labelling differ quite markedly from those of New Zealand.

'There are also some differences between Australian and New Zealand legislation governing trade practices and fair trading in relation to this issue,' Mr Lindenmayer said.

He said that because of the need for a thorough review prior to resolving the future approach, no change was made to the existing standards for Australia and New Zealand when the new Joint Food Standards Code for Australia and New Zealand was adopted in late 2000.

'At that time, Ministers agreed that ANZFA should commence a review of country of origin labelling requirements for the two countries in 2001.

'This review is intended to establish the most appropriate basis for future harmonisation of Australian and New Zealand practice in regard to country of origin labelling standards.'

ANZFA is inviting comment on any of the matters in the issues paper as well as any related matter that may not have been covered. ANZFA is particularly interested in the impacts and costs and benefits for the various stakeholder groups.

The deadline for submissions is 4 July 2001.

Copies of the issues paper can be obtained from ANZFA's website www.foodstandards.gov.au or www.foodstandards.govt.nz or by calling: 02 6271 2222 in Australia or 04 473 9942in New Zealand.