Australia-Calls for new meat labelling.

AUSTRALIA-NEW MEAT LABELLING.

The NSW Government will take Independent MP Richard Torbay’s truth in meat labelling bill to the national level for immediate action, State Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald has announced today.

Under Mr Torbay’s proposed legislation, it will be an offence to falsely describe meat including beef, sheep, goat and pig in advertising, packaging, or labelling.

His push, which followed years of campaigning by the likes of Bindaree Beef abattoir owner JR McDonald, won widespread support from FarmOnline readers when the proposal was first published.

Now Mr Macdonald is backing the plan, saying it will "not only meet consumer needs but it will boost domestic meat sales and create more jobs".

"Truth in labelling would be a major step forward in ensuring consistency of quality for consumers," he said.

"This is all about ensuring that consumers can make informed choices about the meat that they buy, which in turn ensures that producers are recognised and rewarded for their hard work and high-quality produce."

Mr Torbay, who is the Member for the Northern Tablelands, said it was time action was taken.

"Beef producers in NSW are currently being disadvantaged by voluntary labelling that isn’t enforceable," Mr Torbay said.

"This issue has been dumped in the ’too hard’ basket for too long and it’s time we did something about it.

"I am pleased that Minister Macdonald is advancing the matter."

But Mr Macdonald said all states needed to be brought into this scheme for consistency.

"We want to ensure that NSW does not go it alone on this," he said.

"There is potential benefit for meat producers and consumers across the entire country if this scheme is adopted."

The Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) has a working group looking at the issue, which will be discussed at the next meeting in March.