New Zealand rejects food-labeling system

28/11/05 Food Safety Minister Annette King said such labeling should be a commercial decision and not a matter for the government. She added it was potentially a barrier to international trade.

"There is no link between food safety and country-of-origin labeling," King said.

"Food safety is a prerequisite for food sold in New Zealand irrespective of its source."

Australian governments agreed in October to adopt mandatory country-of-origin labeling as proposed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand.

New Zealand's Green Party said Kiwis would be shocked by the Labour government's decision.

"Now we're facing a farcical situation where New Zealand food sent to Australia must be labeled as 'Made in New Zealand', but food coming the other way won't have to have 'Made in Australia' on it," Green MP Sue Kedgley said.

"Surely we have a right to know whether we are eating an Australian leg of lamb or a New Zealand one?"

The Federated Farmers of New Zealand welcomed the move, calling labelling a crude form of protectionism.

"New Zealand has consistently opposed other countries' attempts to impose country-of-origin labeling for food and New Zealand would have looked hypocritical if we had agreed to bring it here," food safety spokesman Frank Brenmuhl said.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/NZ-rejects-food-labelling-system/2005/11/28/1133026397281.html