Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

On 1 July 2016, the coalition government delivered reforms to country-of-origin labelling to provide a clearer, simpler system that enables Australians to clearly see where their food comes from and the proportion that comes from our nation.

Surveys have shown that consumers want this information at their fingertips. Seventy-four per cent of Australians think it's important to be able to identify the country of origin of their food, and 73 per cent agreed that changes to food labelling were required.

We were very proud to bring forward these changes. We've listened and acted. As a result of the work we've already done, everyday Aussie brands like Sanitarium, KR Castlemaine, COON and Cracker Barrel cheese, Beechworth Honey and Carman's muesli are proudly displaying their home-grown products with their new country-of-origin labelling.

The Imported Food Control Amendment (Country of Origin) Bill 2017 is an important final step in implementing these reforms for the Agriculture and Water Resources portfolio.

From 1 July 2018, all applicable food must comply with the labelling requirements set out in the Country of Origin Food Labelling Information Standard 2016. This standard was made under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and provides a more consumer-focused regulatory framework.

The standard will replace the existing country-of-origin labelling, which many found very confusing, for food in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, which will be repealed on 1 July 2018.

This bill will amend the Imported Food Control Act 1992to incorporate the standard made under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

Incorporating the standard will ensure authorised officers can continue to enforce the country-of-origin labelling requirements for imported food products. It will also ensure that the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources can continue its role in enforcing country-of-origin labelling at the border.

The amendments will ensure that it will be business as usual for imported food inspected at the border.

Debate adjourned.

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