Flower growers slam Government over exclusion from country-of-origin labelling scheme

Flower growers are reeling, having been denied entry into Australia’s country-of-origin labelling scheme as they battle a growing tide of imports.

There will be nothing to distinguish a bunch of homegrown roses from those grown in Ecuador, Kenya or Columbia this Mother’s Day despite a concerted push from Australian growers to be included in the nation’s country-of-origin labelling scheme.

After two years of deliberation, a Department of Agriculture-commissioned review by Deloitte said the labelling scheme should not be broadened to products other than food (such as flowers), because there was minimal interest from surveys and consumer focus groups and that a voluntary mechanism could be just as effective.

Peak body Flower Industry Australia was shocked by the finding given its pleas for clearer labelling to combat growing imports flooding the domestic market at prices local growers can’t compete with.

FIA chief executive Anna Jabour said she was “extremely disappointed” Australian shoppers would continue to be left in the dark as to the origins of their flowers despite a consumer-led push to “buy local”.

“During the pandemic, consumers have been increasingly demanding Australian-grown product and making labelling compulsory benefits consumers and florists alike who can currently be kept in the dark about exactly where the flowers come from. Adding flowers to country-of-origin labelling is just common sense”.

She said the timing of the publication of the government’s review was disappointing. Its publication coincided with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and amid catastrophic flooding in northeast Australia.

A number of growers said they did not want to voice their anger given the enormity of what was going on elsewhere.

Third-generation rose grower Michael van der Zwet questioned the research behind the review. The report makes reference to consultation with the Australian Flower Council, an industry body that has largely been suspended due to the formation of the Flower Industry Association.

“We have been begging for this,” Mr van der Zwet said. “It’s absolutely essential. All (imported) flowers are dipped in Round Up for 25 minutes. Shouldn’t the individual person and florist have a choice?”

Flower Wholesaler Paul Pavlou said while it would be good to have clarity on where flowers were grown, flower imports were needed to keep up with domestic demand that the domestic industry couldn’t keep up with.

“Flowers are just another community that can’t compete with on the global market. We’re not going to stop buying shoes, Tesla cars and mobile phones because they’re not made here,” he said.