Government misses the mark on food labelling in ‘business as usual’ response
30th November, 2011
Joint Media ReleaseBruce Billson - Shadow Minister for Small Business, Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs
Warren Truss - Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Sophie Mirabella - Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry and Science
John Cobb - Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food Security
Andrew Southcott – Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Primary Healthcare
THE Government’s response to the Blewett Review reviewing food labelling laws and policy sets out further cautious steps but fails to address some of the key reasons for instigating the review.
The Coalition supports useable and reliable information being readily available to consumers to inform choice about the food they buy and eat.
We welcome the Government’s decision not to proceed with ‘traffic light labelling’ at this time. The policy objective of providing consumers with simple and understandable overall guidance about different foods is admirable but requires further development and consultation to be implemented effectively.
The Coalition believes the Government has adopted a sensible approach to communicating information to consumers about genetically modified food and new food technologies.
Despite a review objective of reducing red-tape, the Government proposal to require FSANZ ‘pre-approval’ for nutritional and health claims ignores the current role of the ACCC in investigating false and misleading representations. Given this, the Government looks set to add to the regulatory burden, increase compliance costs and impede innovation and marketing.
No cost-benefit evidence is provided to justify this new regulatory burden that will apply to all food products, instead of the current approach where regulators target claims relating to specific product that may be dubious.
The Government should recognise the industry-led efforts about warnings concerning the risks of consuming alcohol while pregnant before moving with new mandatory requirements.
The Coalition is disappointed that the significant non-health issues examined by the Blewett Review have attracted so little Government attention.
The Government has missed an opportunity to act on country of origin labelling. After almost a year of consultation, the Government proposes to establish a working group.
The ‘business as usual’ attitude toward Australian-made claims, deregulatory opportunities and the need to clarify enforcement arrangements will be disappointing to many participants in the review process.
It is not clear from the Government’s response that it remains committed to a food labelling law and policy approach that also includes the ambition of the review to “reduce the regulatory burden without compromising public health and safety and maintain or increase the competitiveness of Australian businesses.”
The Coalition will provide a more detailed response following the consideration of the Commonwealth’s position by the Food Regulation Ministerial Council at its 9 December meeting.
[ENDS]
