MEDIA RELEASE Thursday 8 June 2006
“COUNTRY OF ORIGIN” SEAFOOD LABELS ON DISPLAY FROM TODAY
FROM today, you can expect to see something new in your favourite fish shop -- “country of origin” labels on the seafood displays.
Seafood Services Australia Managing Director Mr Ted Loveday said today sees the introduction of long-awaited new national labelling laws.
“The Federal Government and all the States agreed that all unpackaged seafood products on display for sale in retail outlets should carry the country of origin -- even when that country is Australia,” Mr Loveday said.
“Now, seafood lovers will be able to tell at a glance exactly where the seafood on display has originated, no matter whether that is Australia, New Zealand, Thailand or Iceland.”
Mr Loveday said the new rules had been developed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), approved by all Australian Health Ministers and gazetted in December 2005. They would be policed by each State health department.
“Previously, seafood sourced overseas simply had to carry the word ‘Imported’ but , from today the actual country of origin must be displayed adjacent to each type of unpackaged seafood, there must be distinct statement of origin information on packaged products, and there are strengthened requirements for legibility and print size on labels and signs used to declare the country of origin for unpackaged foods.
“This may mean some initial extra cost and paperwork for retailers and others in the marketing chain but the Ministers considered that better informing consumers about the source of their seafood was important.”
Mr Loveday said that FSANZ had published a guide, Country of Origin Labelling of Food, designed to help food retailers and other businesses operators understand the new country of origin labelling rules. Similar rules also now applied to unpackaged fresh and processed fruit, vegetables and nuts. The new guide was available on the FSANZ website.
He added that it is also important for all seafood businesses to comply with standard fish names as prescribed in the Australian Standard Fish Names List available on the Seafood Services Australia website.
Seafood Services Australia is also developing an online tool making it even easier for seafood operators to understand and comply with the Country of Origin Labelling; Primary Production and Processing Standard for Seafood; and the Australian Fish Names Standard. The online tool would be tested right across the supply chain to incorporate fishing, fish farming, processing, distribution and retail.
FURTHER INFORMATION: Mr Ted Loveday, 0427 323 663
SSA Managing Director Mr Ted Loveday, 0427 323 663
Note: Seafood Services Australia is an independent industry-government funded body that facilitates uptake of new techniques and technology throughout the Australian seafood industry, assists in development and adoption of appropriate industry standards, and informs both industry and the general public on seafood-related issues. For further information, see: http://www.seafood.net.au/
Issued: Fri Jun 22 20:04:56 EST
Reference-id: SSANEWS0190
News archive: For more news stories visit the SSA News Archive
Seafood Services Australia is a not for profit company supported by the Australian seafood industry and the Australian Government through funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
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