Major parties block fish labelling Bill in the Senate
TASMANIA has been urged to go it alone and introduce country-of-origin labelling on all cooked seafood.
Tasmania
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TASMANIA has been urged to go it alone and introduce country-of-origin labelling on all cooked seafood after a proposal for national standards was blocked in the Senate.
Restaurant and takeaway customers will remain in the dark about fish product origins after the Senate’s rejection of new labelling laws yesterday.
The Bill, co-sponsored by the Greens and crossbenchers, was introduced to amend the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 and develop a labelling standard that would provide a clear “local or imported” sign for all seafood.
The failure was immediately followed by calls for Tasmania to introduce its own laws to protect the local industry and the state’s brand.
Mako Fresh Fish, North Hobart, owner Ann-Marie Johnson said seafood labelling was in the best interests of consumers and the state.
“If Tasmania believes in the quality of what we produce, then we need to forge ahead and do this alone.”
Tasmania’s Department of State Growth told the Mercury it was open to talking over the idea with industry.
“The Department of State Growth would be happy to engage with industry interested in establishing a 100 per cent Tasmanian-made arrangement that supported and enhanced existing branding,” a spokesperson said.
“This would need to be an approach widely agreed to by the relevant industry.”
Ms Johnson said it was wrong that restaurants and takeaways could sell cheap imported seafood without stating its country of origin.
“We are allowing impostor seafood in through some cafes and restaurants,” she said.
Huon Valley farmer and TV identity Matthew Evans, who was part of the push for national seafood labelling laws, said the Bill’s failure was disappointing and Tasmania should consider going alone.
“Maybe Tasmania should look at this as an opportunity to differentiate itself from other states,” he said.
Denison MP Andrew Wilkie backed the call.
“Apart from improving consumer choice and environmental outcomes, effective seafood labelling in Tasmania would also benefit the Tasmanian brand and Tasmania’s fishing and aquaculture industries,” Mr Wilkie said.
Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson attacked his Labor and Liberal colleagues for teaming up in the Senate to block the Bill.
A national change would have been the best outcome, but failing that Tasmania should stand alone, he said.
“Tasmania has so much to benefit from proper seafood labelling standards. It is popular, simple and would be great for jobs, consumer awareness and our local environment,” he said.
Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck said the Bill was unworkable because any changes would breach an agreement with New Zealand, which is a co-regulator of food standards.
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