ABA calls on Minister McGauran to enforce his Government’s Labelling Laws on US/Brazilian Beef Imports
Published: 26 Jun 2007
News ID: 10247
News ID: 10247
NLIS forced on Australia's beef producers whilst Government allows in beef under a different cloud.
ABA Chairman, Brad Bellinger has called on Minister McGauran to immediately enforce Australia's Labelling legislation.
He said, 'Australia's beef producers have had NLIS forced on them, whilst the Government allows in beef from Brazil under the cloud of FMD, via the USA under a BSE cloud.'
Neither country has trace-back regulation. Russia is questioning Brazilian beef due to poor inspection procedures and the USA is under clouds in Japan and Korea for very lax inspections by USDA.
Australia, with our clean image and the very costly NLIS is bringing in product that could be contaminated in Brazil or the USA on its way here and as a result, we could are placing our Japanese and Korean markets at risk. Of product being imported into Australia the AQIS web site admits that it is only inspecting one in 20 incoming containers.'
Australia is the second largest beef exporter in the world after Brazil. We need Brazilian beef as much as we need to import New Zealand apples.
'To add insult to injury, the canned product ABA found on supermarket shelves breeches Section 65AC of the Trade Practices Act. This decrees that 'all of the significant ingredients or components of the goods in question must come from the country of the representation'.
The canned products in question are clearly labelled 'Produce of USA' yet the company importing the product, as well as the Minister, claim that it is really Brazilian beef and this makes it all OK!
''When the Government fails to apply their own regulations to the importation of food and in doing so could put a nation's health at risk, let alone a whole Industry at risk, it is time for action from the Minister', Mr Bellinger concluded.
For more information please contact Brad Bellinger on 02 6725 4282 mobile: 0428 765 421
Or Linda Hewitt 07 4623 3707
ABA Chairman, Brad Bellinger has called on Minister McGauran to immediately enforce Australia's Labelling legislation.
He said, 'Australia's beef producers have had NLIS forced on them, whilst the Government allows in beef from Brazil under the cloud of FMD, via the USA under a BSE cloud.'
Neither country has trace-back regulation. Russia is questioning Brazilian beef due to poor inspection procedures and the USA is under clouds in Japan and Korea for very lax inspections by USDA.
Australia, with our clean image and the very costly NLIS is bringing in product that could be contaminated in Brazil or the USA on its way here and as a result, we could are placing our Japanese and Korean markets at risk. Of product being imported into Australia the AQIS web site admits that it is only inspecting one in 20 incoming containers.'
Australia is the second largest beef exporter in the world after Brazil. We need Brazilian beef as much as we need to import New Zealand apples.
'To add insult to injury, the canned product ABA found on supermarket shelves breeches Section 65AC of the Trade Practices Act. This decrees that 'all of the significant ingredients or components of the goods in question must come from the country of the representation'.
The canned products in question are clearly labelled 'Produce of USA' yet the company importing the product, as well as the Minister, claim that it is really Brazilian beef and this makes it all OK!
''When the Government fails to apply their own regulations to the importation of food and in doing so could put a nation's health at risk, let alone a whole Industry at risk, it is time for action from the Minister', Mr Bellinger concluded.
For more information please contact Brad Bellinger on 02 6725 4282 mobile: 0428 765 421
Or Linda Hewitt 07 4623 3707
