The Hon Christopher Pyne MP

Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister for Health and Ageing

28 July 2005

Food Ministers to consider final Country of Origin Label Proposal at October meeting

Christopher Pyne, the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, announced today that the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council would consider the final country of origin labelling proposal at its meeting in Sydney on 28 October 2005.

“I will be pursing closer identification of the origins of unpackaged imported foods and would encourage the state governments to do the same at the Ministerial Council,” Mr Pyne said.

“This is a matter of ensuring consumer choice. It is important that consumers can buy food confidently, knowing whether it’s home grown Australian produce or an imported produce.

“A final assessment report will be considered by the FSANZ Board at the end of September and then be provided to the Ministerial Council for discussion at their meeting in October.

“Before finalising this report FSANZ will be consulting again with consumers, growers, retailers and food manufacturers. I urge any interested parties to register with FSANZ to make sure that they receive their copy of the discussion paper.

"The FSANZ consultative process works well. They have already dropped one of the proposals: that consumers ask the retailer the origin of unpackaged food, after public response.

Consultation on the discussion paper will be from 10 August until 2 September 2005. Interested parties can register by contacting the FSANZ Standards Liaison Officer at email slo@foodstandards.gov.au or in Australia phone (02) 6271 2222 or fax (02) 6271 2278 or in New Zealand phone (04) 473 9942 or fax (04) 473 9855.

Media Contact:   Adam Howard 0400 414 833