The Government has released its response to proposals for amendments to country of origin labeling for food. It states that the Government will develop proposals for strengthening Australia’s country of origin labeling framework that:
- would give consumers clearer information about where their food comes from, which would be easier for them to understand, and allow them to make better informed purchasing decisions;
- would not lead to excessive increases in business costs or consumer prices; and
- would be consistent with Australia’s international trade obligations.
The response says that a requirement for country of origin labels for food to indicate the proportion of local ingredients is “under active consideration” although no decisions have been made. The response also raises the possibility of more comprehensive origin labeling on a voluntary basis.