Rex Patrick (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate:

(a) notes that:

  (i) the world's leading conservation organisation, World Wide Fund for Nature, notes that palm oil is the most widely-consumed vegetable oil on the planet, and it is in about half of all packaged products sold in the supermarket,

  (ii) under current labelling laws, manufacturers are able to label palm oil as 'vegetable oil', preventing consumers from being able to make an informed choice about the foods they purchase and consume,

  (iii) palm oil is used in non-food products, including cosmetics, soap, washing powders and other cleansing products,

  (iv) palm oil production results in extensive deforestation and has led to the removal of wildlife habitat and has placed many species, including the endangered orangutan, at risk,

  (v) consumer research indicates that 95 per cent of Australians support mandatory labelling of palm oil, and

  (vi) palm oil is high in saturated fat and low in polyunsaturated fat and increases the risk of heart disease; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to legislate for the mandatory labelling of palm oil on all products.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government is aware of strong community interest concerning food labelling, particularly the use and labelling of palm oil as an ingredient in food products. The Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation is responsible for food-labelling decisions and not the Commonwealth. In 2011, an independent panel undertook a review of food-labelling law and policy. From this, the forum agreed to a framework to guide its decision-making. The government considers that, where appropriate, industry should self-regulate in response to community demand. The forum has agreed that further work must be done before a decision can be made on mandatory labelling of palm oil. The government is committed to ensuring we achieve the appropriate balance between consumer and industry demand.

Question agreed to.