NSW: Govt supports Tassie farmers' dinkum labelling campaign

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2005
NSW: Govt supports Tassie farmers' dinkum labelling campaign



SYDNEY, Aug 24 AAP - The NSW government is backing a campaign launched by Tasmanian
farmers for country-of-origin labelling for Australian-grown and imported meat products.

The Tasmanians recently brought a convoy of tractors to the mainland in their Fair
Dinkum Food Campaign to demand better local food labelling and corporate loyalty to Australian
farmers.

NSW Premier Morris Iemma, who today begins a two-day trip to western NSW, said he supported
better labelling for meat products.

Consumers had a right to know whether they were buying Australian or overseas meat,
Mr Iemma said.

"Under current labelling requirements, consumers have no way of knowing if unpackaged
meat products are home grown or imported," he said in a statement.

"They would often assume they were buying local product, but the fact is that more
and more meat imports are being sold."

More than $323 million worth of fresh and processed meat was imported into Australia
last year, Mr Iemma said.

He said 73 per cent of ham sold in Australia was imported, as was 67 per cent of bacon.

The Fair Dinkum Food campaign began after the McDonald's hamburger chain began acquiring
much of its potato supplies from New Zealand instead of Tasmania to cut costs.

AAP pj/tam/jt

KEYWORD: FARMERS IEMMA (REISSUING)

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