Disappointment as CoO bill stalls

The Australian Greens and food growers' body AUSVEG have reached consensus in expressing disappointment over a Senate committee's rejection of draft country of origin (CoO) labelling laws.

Just before Easter, the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee released its report on Greens-proposed amendments to the Australian Food Labelling Bill, recommending the bill as it stood should not be passed.

Instead, the committee recommended more consultation and work on the issue, arguing the proposed bill did not go far enough to help consumers choose between home-grown and imported raw products.

“The committee recommends that the government should consider developing a more effective country of origin framework (including a more effective definition of 'substantially transformed'), which better balances the interests of consumers, primary producers and manufacturers,” the committee's report said.

The report also suggested that once a workable formula had been agreed upon, a public education campaign would need to be mounted to explain any new guidelines to consumers.

The bill's sponsor, Australian Greens leader Christine Milne, said she would incorporate the committee's findings into a new bill which she said she would present to parliament soon.

"Country of Origin labelling is something that consumers really want and I think it's critical to support Australian farmers," she said.

"One of the issues that came up in the inquiry was that people are also really concerned to know whether the product was manufactured in Australia as well, and that of course is important for local jobs.”

AUSVEG, the national industry body for Australian vegetable and potato growers, echoed the disappointment.

“Obviously we are disappointed that this draft of the bill has not been endorsed, as Country of Origin labelling in its current form is incredibly difficult to understand and in vital need of an overhaul,” AUSVEG spokesman, William Churchill, said.

AUSVEG has campaigned heavily in recent years regarding improvements to the CoO laws, and had worked closely with the Australian Greens, consumer groups, the manufacturing sector and other farming organisations to develop the draft bill.

“Industry will obviously continue to provide feedback on the proposal as it is incredibly important in ensuring the long term viability of not only the Australian vegetable and potato industries but also broader agriculture,” Churchill said.

“It is encouraging that the Greens have indicated that they intend to respond to the report with further improvements to the bill to address the recommendations made, and AUSVEG will continue to work with the Greens on these amendments.”