Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL)
Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL)The Soil & Health Association is campaigning for mandatory Country of Origin Labelling.
'CoOL New Zealand’ Campaign Supported
Media Release from Horticulture New ZealandNovember 3, 2008
Horticulture New Zealand is pleased to be part of the group formed to continue to push for a change in New Zealand’s country of origin labelling laws, ‘CoOL New Zealand’.
CoOLNZ officially launches its website www.cool.org.nz and facebook group ‘I Want A CoOL New Zealand’ in Wellington this morning.
The launch is hosted by Horticulture New Zealand, as November is 5 + A Day’s Fruit and Vegetable Month.
More than 25 producer groups and community organisations are already supporters of CoOLNZ and this number is expected to grow.
“Many of these groups have battled away for years to try to get political support for country of origin labelling in New Zealand,” HortNZ chief executive Peter Silcock says.
“Now we have all come together to give ourselves a combined, and hopefully stronger, voice.”
The website is intended to give New Zealanders an opportunity to learn about what country of origin labelling means, why we should have it and what they can do to show their support.
CoOL New Zealand supporters include: New Zealand Pork, Organics Aotearoa, Soil & Health Association, the CTU, Kiwifruit Growers Inc, NZ Federation of Business and Professional Women, Rural Women NZ, the Pukekohe Vegetable Growers Association, the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers Association and Horticulture New Zealand.
ENDS
Website: www.cool.org.nz - Country of Origin Labelling website
Facebook Group: ‘I Want A CoOL New Zealand!’
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September 2008
Steffan Browning, Soil & Health Association Spokesperson
Recently the New Zealand Food Safety Authority’s Consumer Forum, at which Soil & Health is an active participant, unanimously supported Country of Origin Labelling.
Currently a petition collecting signatures to try and get Government support for CoOL is focused on single component foods, such as meat, seafood, fruit and vegetables.
Foodstuffs has introduced CoOL into its supermarkets for fish, meat, fruit and vegetables and Sanitarium has differentiated Australian peanuts and Chinese peanuts in their peanut butter products. All organic processors, wholesalers and retailers must ensure they match these leads.
Peter Alexander of Chantal Organic Wholesalers has an in-house labelling system for their Kai Ora brand multi component foods that allows quick changes when components country of origin varies. This example shows that contrary to food industry and government claims, costs and compliance are not insurmountable for label changes.
Consumers deserve better than those almost valueless ‘Contains Imported Ingredients’ labels. Chantal are to be congratulated for their approach.
The safe food base of the Country of Origin Labelling argument needs to be broadened to consumers right to choose on political, (Rainbow Warrior stopped me buying French for some time), democracy, social justice, environmental practices (eg, forest clearance, Yangtze dolphin, whaling), perceived risks (Chernobyl effects on parts of Europe).
The links between fair production, and environmental and food safety issues are often closely connected, and ethical consumer choice and preference for local product should not be restricted.
Yes we are a trading nation, but true free trade must surely be based on full information and choice.
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