What’s cooler than being CoOL?

The clock is ticking for businesses to adopt Australia’s new Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) changes for food products, which become mandatory in less than one year on 1 July 2018.

 

Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Luke Hartsuyker, today encouraged food businesses to follow the lead of their counterparts, who were already on board with CoOL and giving consumers the information they had been calling for.

 

“We have now passed the half way point in the transition to the mandatory labelling scheme that is designed to give clearer and more meaningful information to Australian consumers about the origin of the food they buy,” Minister Hartsuyker said.

 

“Australians are seeing the labels on a growing number of foods products in their supermarket aisles, ranging from Woolworths packed salad mixes, to the iconic CHIKO roll, to Wicked Sister’s Rice Pudding.

 

“The new labels are easy to identify, meaningful and clear—consumers are able to easily access Australian origin information and liking what they see.

 

“The labels also make it easy for families to see how much of their food is grown in Australia and make it easier to support Australian farmers at the checkout.

 

“Business were given a two-year period before mandatory compliance and it is fantastic to see so many are adopting the labels well ahead of the deadline.

 

“I have visited businesses right across Australia who have adopted the labels early, and I encourage remaining businesses to follow suit and make it clear where an item has been produced, grown, made or packed.

 

“Now, more than ever, consumers have access to clearer country of origin labelling when selecting what goes in their shopping basket. Under the changes, imported goods cannot claim to be made in Australia just because they underwent canning, slicing or reconstitution in Australia.

 

“For most food made, grown or produced in Australia, the new labels feature the kangaroo in a triangle symbol and a bar chart indicating the percentage of Australian ingredients.”

 

The tool and other support for business can be found at business.gov.au/foodlabels or by calling the contact centre on 13 28 46.

 

More information for consumers can be found at foodlabels.industry.gov.au.