Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Xenophon for his question. Can I say at the outset that the government does not concede the first point. All food produced or imported for sale in Australia and New Zealand is required by law to comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, state and territory food legislation and other legislative requirements. State and territory enforcement agencies are responsible for enforcing the code for all food available for sale within their jurisdictions, including imported food. These agencies can investigate specific complaints and, if they consider it necessary, prosecute offenders for breaching provisions in the code. The federal government is not directly involved in that, which goes to your second point.

Infant formula is of course required to be labelled with country of origin. I am aware of the South Australian health department having identified, through routine monitoring, a compliance issue with one infant formula product which originated in New South Wales. South Australia has correctly referred the issue to New South Wales authorities for further investigation and, if required, enforcement action. This is the appropriate course of action to take when these issues are raised. They are of grave concern and I do understand Senator Xenophon’s concerns in this area.

Country of origin labelling is one of a number of issues that are being considered by the Blewett review of food labelling, which will report to COAG in early 2011. This independent review will have the opportunity to canvass the need for any changes to labelling policy, including country of origin. Australia has extensive country of origin labelling requirements mandated for packaged food. (Time expired)