AU: Industry pressure allows banned chemical in imported juice
In a letter to Senator Xenophon in January, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, the Hon. Catherine King MP, stated that orange juice concentrate containing any level of the fungicide would not be permitted to be imported into Australia after April 2012.
However in his appearance before Senate Estimates this evening, FSANZ Chief Executive Officer, Steve McCutcheon, effectively admitted that lobbying from juice processors was a key factor in forcing a last-minute "review" of this ban.
"Again we see the big end of town putting the squeeze on small producers," Nick said.
"The citrus industry in Australia was effectively banned from using this chemical over two years ago, yet FSANZ decide to wait for another review before banning the harmful fungicide at the import level."
Mr McCutcheon also made the admission that an Australian consumer buying orange juice labelled as 'Australian Made' could be drinking a product that consists of up to 70 or 80 per cent Brazilian concentrate.
"This clearly highlights just how pathetic our food labelling laws are," Nick said. "'Australian Made' should mean just that."
Senator Xenophon has also hit out at FSANZ for not adequately publicising this back-flip until questioned by the Committee, admitting it only published the information in a fact sheet on its website.
"The growers I speak with in the Riverland don't spend too much on the internet searching for fact sheets," Nick said.
"FSANZ may try and bury the facts, but they certainly can't bury this issue."
For more information:
Nick Xenophon
Tel: +61 0411 626 677
or:
Sally Ward
Tel: +61 0409 869 689
For comment from Australian producers:
Judith Damiani
CEO of Citrus Australia
Tel +61 0418 891 814