This is a letter I received today from AUSTRALIAN GOVERMENT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. Ill have to type the entire thing so forgive me any errors as Im tired.: Dear Mrs Kennedy (that is my mother in laws name not mine!) I refer to your correspondence of 17th October 2013 to the Prime Minister, the Hon Tony Abbott MP regarding the labelling of halal food in Australia. Your letter has been referred to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator the Hon Fiona Nash. The Assistant Minister has asked me to respond on her behalf. The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that consumers have access to sufficient information to make informed choices about the foods they purchase. Food safety is the overarching principle for guiding decisions about food labelling regulation in Australia. However, there is a growing interest in the community for labelling that allows consumers to make choices based on political, religious and/or ethical preferences, such as halal. In 2009, a review of Food Labelling Law and Policy was undertaken by an independent panel. In 2011, the Final Report from this review, Labelling Logic - Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy, 2011 (Labelling Logic) was released, which contains 61 recommendations, including a number relating to the labelling of consumer values issues, such as halal labelling. On 9th December 2011, the Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation (the Forum), considered its response to recommendations in Labelling Logic. The Forum, comprising Commonwealth, state, territory and New Zealand Government Ministers with responsibility for food-related issues, agreed to a framework to guide decision making on food labelling using a three tiered hierarchy consisting of food safety, followed by preventative health and then consumer value issues. In addition, the Forum considered that regulatory actions in relation to consumer value issues, such as halal, should generally be initiated by industry self-regulation. Further information on the Food Labelling Review is available at fooodlabellingreview.gov.au. With regard to your concerns about the halal slaughter process, I can advise that all states and teritiories have contemporary and comprehensive animal welfare legislation in place that producers of halal meat, as with producers of any meat, must adhere to this legislation. Many halal producers also follow the guidelines and standards outlined in the National Animal Welfre Standards for Livestock Processing Establishments preparing Meat for Huam Consumption. Halal food is available in Australia to those people who wish to buy it. This is an accepted freedom of our society and a reflection of respect for the right of people to maintain their traditions and beliefs, including their food choices. Labelling of halal food is not mandatory, however, the food industry can provide this information if they choose. If you wish to identify and avoid consuming halal products, you can confirm directy with the butcher, manufacturer or the retailer whether their products are halal certfied and whether this is identified on the jproduct or not. I trust that the above information is of assistance to you. Yours sincerely Kathy Dennis Assistant Secretary Research, Regulation and Food Branch November 2013 fooodlabellingreview.gov/ fooodlabellingreview.gov
Posted on: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 08:33:16 +0000
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