Berry scare shows need for country of origin labelling

AUSVEG claims that the New Zealand health scare, which echoes the outbreak of hepatitis A linked to imported frozen berries in Australia earlier this year, highlights the need for regulations which give consumers the power to choose where their food comes from.

Deputy CEO of AUSVEG Andrew White says, given the similarities that took place in both Australia and New Zealand this year, country of origin labelling is more important than ever.

Australia's leading horticultural body, AUSVEG, representing more than 9,000 Australian vegetable and potato growers, has been an outspoken advocate of labelling reform over many years.

"In recent weeks, we've seen New Zealand raise concerns in the Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation about the impact that Australian country of origin labelling reforms could have on New Zealand food producers who import food into Australia," says White.

White says country of origin labelling will introduce transparency so consumers can make informed decisions about their food purchases.

"The only producers who could possibly be hurt by this kind of reform are those who are importing dangerous produce from countries with lax food safety standards and want to hide this vital information from consumers."

The new health scare has led to New Zealand's opposition parties calling on the Government to introduce mandatory Country of Origin Labelling. New Zealand currently only has voluntary labelling laws.

"It's encouraging to see both the New Zealand Labour Party and the Green Party of New Zealand come forward and call for mandatory Country of Origin Labelling," says White.

"Shoppers deserve to have this kind of information available to them in the supermarket aisle, and New Zealand's statement to the Ministerial Forum goes against all principles of consumer rights."

"Transparent food labelling must apply equally to all countries, regardless of trading relationships, so that consumers get the information they want and sorely need.