Friday, 12 August 2005
FSANZ seeks community views on strengthened Country of Origin Labelling Rules
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today announced that it has abandoned its ‘information on request’ approach to the country of origin labelling of food and is proposing a comprehensive package of measures to provide consumers with adequate information.
A proposed food standard will make it mandatory to declare the country of origin on all packaged foods and, in a new provision, the standard has new requirements for the labelling of unpackaged fish, fruit, vegetables and nuts, whether fresh or processed.
The country of origin statements will appear on a food label or on a sign displayed with a food in a manner that is clear and unambiguous.
FSANZ’s General Manager Food Standards, Dean Stockwell, today released for consultation a discussion paper on the latest country of origin labelling proposal, which would apply in Australia and New Zealand.
‘The proposed standard seeks to strengthen the current country of origin labelling provisions in the Food Standards Code’, Mr Stockwell said.
‘Packaged food must state the country of origin of the food in a separate statement. Unpackaged fresh fruit, vegetable, nuts and seafood must also state the actual country of origin, and not just state ‘imported’.
‘If they are locally produced, these unpackaged foods must be labelled as ‘Australian produce’ in Australia and as ‘New Zealand produce’ in New Zealand.’
Mr Stockwell said FSANZ has carefully considered the community response to previous suggestions on country of origin labelling requirements for food.
The latest proposal gives consumers the information they need for informed choice, dovetails with existing trade practices law and is consistent with the international obligations of Australia and New Zealand.
If the new food standard is approved, unpackaged fish, fruit, vegetables and nuts and packaged fresh produce will need new country of origin labelling within 6 months of the standard becoming law. For all other packaged foods, a two-year phase in time will apply, with an additional 12 months for existing stocks.
Mr Stockwell said that FSANZ would work closely with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the New Zealand Commerce Commission to promote compliance with the Food Standards Code and trade practices laws.
‘The proposed new food standard is part of a regulatory package to address country of origin information. I encourage all interested parties to read the discussion paper on the new proposal and to let us know their views,’ Mr Stockwell said.
‘We have already held two rounds of public comment on country of origin labelling and, as some stakeholders appear to feel strongly about this issue, we are taking the unusual step of consulting again with consumers, growers, retailers and food manufacturers.’
The FSANZ Board is expected to consider the final report at the end of September, prior to a consideration by the Food Regulation Ministerial Council in late October 2005.
Further information:
Copies of the discussion paper are available on the FSANZ website at www.foodstandards.gov.au or can be obtained by contacting the FSANZ Standards Liaison Officer on at email slo@foodstandards.gov.au or in Australia phone (02) 6271 2222 or fax (02) 6271 2278 or in New Zealand contact the FSANZ Office - phone (04) 473 9942 or fax (04) 473 9855.
Details on how to make a submission are also available from the FSANZ website. Submissions should reach FSANZ by Monday 5 September 2005.
Media contact: Lydia Buchtmann FSANZ (02) 6271 2620 or 0401 714 265 mobile
Country of Origin Labelling Questions and Answers (August 2005)