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Aussie made food labels now mandatory

new_food_labelsConsumers will now have a better idea about Australian grown and manufactured food products after tough new labelling laws became mandatory.

As of July 1, manufacturers must comply with a new standard for food labels which will include more detail about where ingredients are sourced.

The new labels distinguish between what is 100 per cent grown in Australia, made in Australia from at least 70 per cent Australian ingredients, and packed from at least 50 per cent Australian ingredients.

Food packaged and labelled on or before June 30 can still be sold without the new labels after that date. National Farmers’ Federation chief executive Tony Maher believes the new system will be a boost for Australian food producers.

“As long as we’ve got more clarity in labelling, our general view is people like to buy Australian,” Maher told ABC radio on Monday. “They like to support Australian farmers. These new labelling requirements will help them do that and that will help Australian farmers.”

Last week, iconic Australian manufacturer SPC welcomed the changes, saying it levelled the playing field for Australian producers.

“SPC supports the transparency these regulations bring, with Australians often mislead by the impression that certain packaged products are Australian, when in fact they’re not,” said SPC GM Marketing and Innovation, Simone Coté.

“We encourage people to look for this new bar coding system which signifies the percentage of Australian ingredients in their products, helping them make informed decisions when shopping for themselves and their families,” Coté continued. 

Assistant Science, Jobs and Innovation Minister Zed Seselja said the new labels would provide consumers with accurate information,

“Australian farmers and producers will see the benefits with consumers able to identify and choose to buy Australian products,” Senator Seselja said in a statement.

The food labelling reforms began in 2016, with the two year transition period ending on July 1 this year.

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