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Labor Handballs Food Labelling ResponsibilityLabor’s Consumer Affairs Minister, Marsha Thomson has abandoned all responsibility to fruit and vegetable producers and consumers about the enforcement of food labelling regulations. By Philip Davis - 14th September 2005 - Back to News Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis said the Liberal Party raised the issue in Parliament yesterday, stating that although Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) developed food labelling regulations, it was the Bracks Government’s responsibility to enforce and police them.
When Marsha Thomson was asked in Parliament what action she was taking to ensure Victorian fruit and vegetable producers were protected and consumers were informed about the origin of fresh food products, she simply handballed all responsibility to the Minister for Health, instead of reassuring Victorian growers that their interests would be protected, Mr Davis said.
"It is not my responsibility; the responsibility resides with the Minister for Health in relation to her department’s responsibility to ensure goods are properly marked. We have no responsibility as a department to ensure that food-of-origin labelling is occurring."
– Marsha Thomson, Hansard 13 September 2005
Mr Davis said Marsha Thomson missed a prime opportunity for her department to step in and make sure consumers are fully informed about what products they are purchasing.
"If imported fresh fruit and vegetables are not labelled, it is to the detriment of Victorian farmers who are competing with cheap imports, while consumers have no idea where their fresh products have been grown," he said.
"Marsha Thomson told Parliament that Consumer Affairs Victoria would only respond to complaints – a case of closing the gate after the horse has bolted.
"Now that Marsha Thomson has handballed all responsibility for food labelling to the Minister for Health, Bronwyn Pike must take action.
"Victoria’s fruit and vegetable farmers are fighting an up-hill battle against cheaper imports that are not being appropriately labelled and the Bracks Government is doing nothing to assist, despite being responsible for enforcing compliance of nationally approved labelling codes.
"While Tasmanian farmers were recently raising public awareness on this issue, the Bracks Government avoided taking any responsibility for enforcing the law in Victoria.
"Marsha Thomson says it is all up to Bronwyn Pike to protect farmers and consumers."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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