Australia joins WTO action to limit consumers’ right to know

Riverina Citrus Chairman Frank Battistel has expressed concern that Australia has sided with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in seeking to overturn the United States’ 2009 Country of Origin Labeling Law (COOL), which was designed to inform and educate consumers about where their food and produce come from. 

“Countries are claiming that the U.S. law to inform consumers is somehow a ‘barrier to trade’ which is a strange argument because for producers in Australia, this is what we use to market our fruit into our export markets,” Mr Battistel said. 

“In the domestic market we surely need more information on country of origin, not less. 

“Our truth in labelling requirements to date are a failure in this country and it would appear that the WTO is moving to act against the better measures at work in the U.S. - which are designed to inform consumers,” he said.

“Australia is supporting this WTO action and we would be very eager to hear why and which arm of Government is so hot on shutting down consumers’ right to know,” he said. 

“Surely that is not a desirable outcome for any consumer – we need to know more, not less, about where our food comes from. 

“A string of recent health, safety and sustainability issues in food sold in Australia scream for the need for us to be better informed when purchasing food and produce,” he said. 

“I can tell you that we use very little pesticide in the Riverina, we pay our workers appropriately and we are proud of the clean, healthy produce we make here,” Mr Battistel said. 

“Why shouldn’t people be entitled to be as informed as is possible and practical? 

“Why is the Australian government supporting an action which at its heart seems to be about denying real information for consumers? 

“After all this is really our main advantage in a global market - Australia’s reputation as a clean, green agricultural producer,” he said.

The countries that have joined Mexico’s and Canada’s complaint as third parties include  Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, the European Union, Guatemala, Japan, India, Korea, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Peru, and Chinese Taipei. In May the WTO issued a preliminary ruling against the U.S.

A final ruling from the WTO is expected in September this year.

7/12/2011

Source: riverinacitrus.com.au