Food Standards Australian New Zealand (FSANZ), the bi-national independent statutory food safety authority, has proposed to abolish the compulsory country of origin labelling on imported produce, including that currently displayed on fruit, vegetables and seafood.
Under the existing labelling laws (which are governed by the Australian New Zealand Foods Standards Code), food producers, wholesalers and retailers are required to label imported produce with the country of origin at the point of sale.
"This crucial legislation allows consumers to differentiate between imported and Australian-grown produce such as seafood, fruit and vegetables. As such it provides a level playing field between local and imported produce at the point of sale," the Australian Prawn Farmers Association (APFA) said in a statement.
According to APFA, around 60 per cent of all seafood in the Australian domestic market is imported and changing the existing legislation would threaten the country's AUS$75 million (US$58.3 million) prawn industry.
It also claimed that there had been examples of some retailers "unscrupulously" and falsely labelling imported products as Australian seafood.
Scott Walter, APFA'S executive officer said that the Australian seafood industry is "outraged" at the legislation proposals and condemned them as "preposterous".
"Australian consumers are demanding more information about their food choices, not less, and they have a right to know if their fish, prawns or oranges are imported or locally produced," he said.
Walter also suggested that the legislation was being driven by the New Zealand Commerce Commission, which he claims are "out of touch" with Australian government policy.
"We have worked closely with the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation Senator Ian MacDonald and Primary Industries Minister Warren Truss to actively promote and uphold truth in labelling laws".
"We are not opposed to competition from imports, and have successfully competed against imports for twenty years. However, we cannot accept this unfair proposal which, in effect, will reduce consumer choice and allow cheap imported products to be passed off as premium grade local produce," he added.
The Australian seafood industry was valued at AUS$2.3 billion (US$1.79 billion) in 2003, with exports accounting for around 80 per cent of this figure.