WHILE Australia was trying to digest the federal election, like swallowing a gobstopper whole, something else kicked in around the same time folk were filling in their hallway runner-sized ballot papers.
The new country of origin food labelling system came into effect on July 1.
The changes stem from general public displeasure at the confusion over how to identify where a product comes from.
Manufacturers were getting away with loose terms about where products' materials were sourced, making it difficult for consumers to even buy Australian product if they wanted it.
The new visual labelling system will feature the familiar kangaroo in a triangle symbol so buyers can identify the food’s Australian origin.
The labels will include:
- Grown in Australia: For food where 100 per cent of the ingredients are Australian grown.
- Product of Australia: For all food where 100 per cent of the ingredients are Australian and all major processing has been done here.
- Made in Australia: Means major processing has been done here. Imported foods that are only sliced, canned, reconstituted or repackaged here cannot make this claim.
- Packed in Australia: Features only a bar chart which shows the percentage of Australian ingredients
All imported foods produced, made, grown or packed outside Australia are shown with their country of origin on the label.
Unpackaged food doesn't escape either. Country of origin labelling applies to unpackaged fresh and processed fruit, vegetables, nuts, spices, herbs, legumes, seeds, fish (including shellfish) and meat (pork, beef, sheep and chicken).
According to the federal government's labelling website (www.foodlabels.industry.gov.au), for unpackaged food, country of origin information can be written on a sign near the food or on labels.This could be, for example, stickers on fruit.
Changing labels may be a headache for some food producers but there appears to be huge potential within it.
In two years’ time (the new labels become mandatory on July 1, 2018), it could be quite common for shoppers to be discussing the "gold bar" indicators on the side of products, aiming to support locally-produced stuff.
In time, it could stimulate a swell of positive patriotism as consumers come to terms with exactly how much of what they eat actually comes from overseas.
For the produce industry, now is the time to get ready and capitalise on the early introduction phase by clearly labelling Australian-grown produce as such.
It would be a credit to the industry if it could boast about being the first industry to fully embrace the system, showing a hungry public that Aussie growers and producers are not only proud to state the origin of their products but are willing to put it on as a guarantee of quality.
Ashley Walmsley
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
