Australian Made | The Checkout

Summary

In 2014, Australia revamped its food labeling laws to simplify country of origin labeling. The new rules introduced a kangaroo logo for products made or grown in Australia and a bar chart to indicate the percentage of Australian ingredients. Previously misleading labels like 'Made in Australia' for products with mixed local and imported ingredients are now restricted. Products packed or simply processed in Australia must use a specific label, not the kangaroo symbol, but can still use the bar chart for transparency. Imported foods must disclose their origin. The changes, effective from July 1, 2016, aim to provide clearer information to consumers about the origin of their food.

Takeaways

• 🇦🇺 New rules for country of origin food labeling in Australia were introduced in 2016.
• 🦘 The kangaroo logo indicates that a product was made or grown in Australia.
• 📊 A bar chart is used to show the percentage of Australian ingredients in a product.
• 🔍 Products labeled 'Made in Australia' must now be substantially transformed or have at least 50% of their production costs spent in Australia.
• 🚫 Products that are only packed or have simple processing in Australia must use a specific label and cannot use the kangaroo symbol.
• 📚 The bar chart can still be used to indicate the percentage of Australian ingredients for these products.
• 🌐 If a food is imported, the label must state the country of origin.
• 🚫 There is no requirement for non-Australian ingredients to state their origin, though some might choose to do so.
• 🔄 The new labeling rules started on July 1st, 2016, but phased in gradually.
• 🌱 If you see 'Growing in Australia' or 'Product of Australia' without a kangaroo symbol, the product is still 100% Australian.

Q & A

What was the issue with Australia's country of origin food labeling laws in 2014?

In 2014, Australia's country of origin food labeling laws were considered inadequate because they allowed products labeled 'Made in Australia' to be made from local and imported ingredients without substantial transformation or spending 50% of their production costs in Australia.

What did Christopher Pyne do to address the food labeling laws?

Christopher Pyne introduced new rules to simplify country of origin food labeling, which included a kangaroo logo and a bar chart to indicate the percentage of Australian ingredients.

What does the kangaroo logo in the new labeling system represent?

The kangaroo logo in the new labeling system indicates that the product was made or grown in Australia.

What does the bar chart in the new labeling system represent?

The bar chart in the new labeling system shows the percentage of ingredients that are Australian.

What was one of the problems with the old labeling system?

One of the problems with the old labeling system was that products labeled 'Made in Australia' could be made from a combination of local and imported ingredients without substantial transformation or spending 50% of their production costs in Australia.

What is the new requirement for products that have only been packed in Australia or had simple processing?

Products that have only been packed in Australia or had simple processing must use a label stating they are 'Packed in Australia' and cannot use the kangaroo symbols, but they can use the bar chart to indicate the percentage of Australian ingredients.

What must be stated on the label if the food is imported?

If the food is imported, the label must indicate the country it is from.

What is the significance of the kangaroo logo and the bar chart in the new labeling system?

The kangaroo logo signifies that the product was made or grown in Australia, while the bar chart shows what percentage of the ingredients are Australian, providing a clearer indication of the product's origin.

What is the new rule regarding the origin of non-Australian ingredients?

Under the new system, non-Australian ingredients do not have to state their origin, although some manufacturers might choose to do so.

When did the new food labeling rules start and how long will it take to be fully implemented?

The new food labeling rules started on July 1st, 2016, but they will take a while to be phased in.

What should consumers look for if they see 'Growing in Australia' or 'Product of Australia' labels without a kangaroo symbol?

If consumers see 'Growing in Australia' or 'Product of Australia' labels without a kangaroo symbol, they can still be assured that the product is 100% Australian.

Outlines

00:00

🇦🇺 New Australian Food Labeling Rules

In 2014, Australia's country of origin food labeling laws were deemed inadequate, but new regulations have been introduced to simplify the process. The new system features a kangaroo logo to indicate that a product was made or grown in Australia, and a bar chart to show the percentage of Australian ingredients used. Previously, products made in Australia from a mix of local and imported ingredients could be misleadingly labeled, but the new rules require products that are only packed or simply processed in Australia to use a different label and cannot use the kangaroo symbol. If a product is imported, the label must specify the country of origin. The aim is to prevent misleading labeling and to provide clearer information to consumers about the origin of their food. The new rules, starting from July 1st, 2016, are expected to phase in gradually, and existing labels without the kangaroo symbol but claiming 'growing in Australia' or 'product of Australia' are still considered 100% Australian.

Keywords

💡Country of Origin Food Labeling Laws

Country of Origin Food Labeling Laws refer to regulations that require food products to indicate where they were produced or manufactured. In the context of the video, these laws are significant as they aim to provide consumers with clear information about the origin of their food, which is a central theme of the discussion. The script mentions that Australia's laws have been updated to simplify this labeling.

💡Kangaroo Logo

The Kangaroo Logo is a symbol introduced in the new labeling rules to indicate that a product was made or grown in Australia. It serves as a quick visual cue for consumers to identify Australian-made products. The video script uses the kangaroo logo as an example to illustrate the new labeling system's attempt to clarify the origin of food products.

💡Bar Chart

In the video, the Bar Chart is a labeling element that shows the percentage of Australian ingredients in a product. It is crucial for understanding the proportion of locally sourced ingredients versus imported ones within a product, thus helping consumers make informed choices based on the origin of ingredients.

💡Made in Australia

Made in Australia is a label that traditionally signifies a product's production occurred within the country. However, the script points out that this label could be misleading if it does not account for the origin of ingredients. The new rules aim to address this issue by distinguishing between products made in Australia and those with a higher percentage of Australian ingredients.

💡Substantial Transformation

Substantial Transformation refers to the process where imported ingredients are significantly altered or processed in Australia, potentially allowing them to be labeled as 'Made in Australia.' The video script criticizes this concept under the old system, as it could lead to products with minimal Australian content being labeled as Australian-made.

💡Packaging in Australia

Packaging in Australia is a term used in the new rules to describe products that have only been packaged in the country without substantial transformation. Such products cannot use the kangaroo symbol but must indicate the percentage of Australian ingredients and state that they were 'Packed in Australia,' as mentioned in the script.

💡Production Costs

Production Costs in the context of the video relate to the expenses incurred in creating a product. Under the old system, if a product spent 50% of its production costs in Australia, it could be labeled 'Made in Australia,' regardless of the origin of its ingredients. The new rules aim to provide clearer guidelines on this aspect.

💡Barraminidi Fish Pellets

Barraminidi Fish Pellets, also known as Asian seabass, serve as an example in the script of a product that was previously labeled 'Made in Australia' despite being an imported ingredient covered in Australian breadcrumbs. This example highlights the need for clearer labeling rules to prevent consumer confusion.

💡Imported Food Labeling

Imported Food Labeling is the requirement for food products to indicate their country of origin when they are imported into Australia. The script discusses how the new rules mandate clear labeling for imported foods, ensuring consumers are informed about the true origin of the products they purchase.

💡Phase-in Period

The Phase-in Period refers to the time frame during which new regulations are gradually implemented. The script mentions that the new food labeling rules will start on July 1st, 2016, but will take some time to be fully adopted by the industry.

💡Growing in Australia

Growing in Australia is a label that signifies a product's ingredients were grown within the country. The script explains that even without the kangaroo symbol, if a product is labeled 'Growing in Australia,' it is still considered to be 100% Australian, reflecting the importance of origin in food labeling.

Highlights

In 2014, the Australian government introduced new rules to simplify country of origin food labeling.

Christopher Pyne played a role in the reform of food labeling laws.

There are two key symbols to look for: a kangaroo and a bar chart.

The kangaroo logo indicates the product was made or grown in Australia.

The bar chart shows the percentage of Australian ingredients in a product.

Products labeled 'Made in Australia' previously did not have to be substantially transformed or have 50% of production costs spent locally.

Under the new rules, products simply packed or minimally processed in Australia must use a specific label and cannot use the kangaroo symbol.

The bar chart can still be used to indicate the percentage of Australian ingredients for products not bearing the kangaroo symbol.

If food is imported, the label must state the country of origin.

The new system aims to eliminate confusion caused by products labeled 'Made in Australia' with mixed origins.

Non-Australian ingredients do not have to state their specific origin under the new system.

Barnaby Joyce acknowledges that stating the origin of every ingredient is impractical.

The new rules started on July 1st, 2016, but implementation will be phased in over time.

In the interim, products with 'Grown in Australia' or 'Product of Australia' labels without a kangaroo symbol are still 100% Australian.

The transcript discusses the practicality and implications of the new food labeling laws in Australia.

Transcripts

back in 2014 we thought Australia's

country of origin food labeling laws

were an absolute but tonight we've got

some good news oh god you're here I'm

always here yeah so anyway Christopher

Pyne has done something about it

I fixed it sort of what do you mean sort

of well the government has introduced

new rules to simplify country of origin

food labeling now there are two things

to look out for one is a kangaroo logo

is the other a koala no it's a bar chart

the kangaroo means the product was made

or growin in Australia but just because

something is made in Australia doesn't

mean the ingredients are Australian

that's where the bar chart comes in it

tells you what percentage of the

ingredients is Australian now under the

old system one of the big problems was

product labeled made in Australia from

local and imported ingredients I'm like

made in Australia these ones don't have

to be substantially transformed down

under or spend 50% of their production

costs here which is why these birds are

barramundi fish pellets otherwise known

as Asian seabass from Vietnam covered in

Australian breadcrumbs can use it yeah

that was well you shouldn't see

any of that sort of nonsense anymore

under the new rules products that have

just been packed in Australia or only

had simple processing here must use this

label they can't use the kangaroo

symbols right but they can use the bar

chart to tell you the percentage of

Australian ingredients as well as

putting it into words nice now what if

the whole bloody thing is a foreigner if

food is imported the label has to tell

you which country it's from so there you

have it a kangaroo logo means the

products made or growing in Australia

and the bar chart shows you what

percentage of the ingredients is

Australian wait a minute

under this new system how can I tell

whether non Australian ingredients come

from they don't have to say

mate some might choose to but even

Barnaby Joyce accepts that stating the

origin of every ingredient is

impractical how far back are we going to

follow a can of tomatoes from overseas

if it went from Italy to China from

South America because sometimes we find

that these products have multiple have

multiple venues which they came from and

we all know how he feels about

undeclared imports same way I do you're

kind of xenophobic you know please

explain well it's not a bad thing that

we can buy stuff from other countries

and they can buy stuff from us straight

up never mind just remember these new

rules start on July 1st 2016 but they'll

take a while to be phased in in the

meantime if you see the words growing in

Australia or product of Australia but no

kangaroo symbol don't worry it's still

100% Palsy good now what can you tell me

about hello yeah we're out of time