Green light for food labelling a win for shoppers, farmers and workers

 MARCH 31, 2016: The agreement by the states and territories to sweeping reforms on country of origin food labelling is great news for Aussie shoppers, Aussie farmers and Aussie workers.This is yet another great outcome for Australians from the $4 billion Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, crafted and delivered by The Nationals.The new food labelling system will give Australian consumers the clarity they deserve, without imposing an excessive burden on businesses.It’s also a boost for Aussie farmers, and will secure jobs in agriculture and food processing for Aussie workers.Consumers deserve peace of mind about labels claiming that a product is ‘Made in’ or a ‘Product of’ Australia – and the new system will ensure that’s the case.Many foods found on Australian retail shelves will be required to include a kangaroo in a triangle logo to indicate if the food is made, produced or grown in Australia.The new system will also include a bar chart indicating the proportion of Australian ingredients.This will make it much easier for consumers to choose which product they want to buy, armed with the knowledge of where it has been grown and packaged.The reforms will be introduced from 1 July with labels expected to appear in retail outlets later this year.Today’s agreement comes after decades of frustration on the part of consumers that country of origin information for food is misleading and confusing.