fbpx
Print this page
Tuesday, 18 April 2017 07:55

Govt cool with country of origin bill

Written by 
Bill English. Bill English.

The Government is now backing a Green Party bill requiring country of origin labelling (CoOL) on single ingredient food such as fruit and meat.

Prime Minister Bill English says the change of heart is prompted by consumer preference as roundly discussed in National’s caucus. “It’s reflecting pretty strong consumer preferences.”

The Consumers’ Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill will have its first reading in parliament soon and will go to select committee after National agreed to support it.

It will require mandatory CoOL for fresh single ingredient foods such as meat, fruit, vegetables, nuts oils and flour.

English says National will decide after the select committee process whether to continue to support it into law.

Horticulture New Zealand has congratulated the government on backing the bill.

“Given that our recent survey showed more than 70% of NZers want mandatory CoOL for fresh fruit and vegetables, it is great to see the government listened to that,” Horticulture NZ chief executive Mike Chapman says.

More like this

2024 red meat exports end on a high

New Zealand's red meat exports for 2024 finished on a positive note, with total export value increasing 17% over last December to reach $1.04 billion, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).

Featured

Big return on a small investment

Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.

Editorial: Sensible move

OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.

National

Machinery & Products