FED: Consumers revolt against food regulation switch plan

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-1999
FED: Consumers revolt against food regulation switch plan

BRISBANE, Feb 10 AAP - Moves to switch responsibility for food regulation from health to
agriculture ministers threatened consumer safety, lobby groups said today.

The Public Health Association called on federal Health Minister Michael Wooldridge to
confirm that he would retain control of the Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA).

The PHA and Australian Consumers Association (ACA) said they were concerned about
increasing lobbying within the federal government on behalf of food producers.

"We are all aware of the disastrous consequences which can occur when food production is
not sufficiently independent of food regulation," PHA president Professor Fran Baum said.

Matt O'Neill, food policy officer for the ACA, said the United Kingdom had moved food
regulatory authority food safety, nutrition and labelling back into the health department
after the disaster of Mad Cow disease.

"Any move to put ANZFA under agriculture could effectively strip consumer protections built
up over decades," he said.

"It will give primacy to food production rather than the health of Australians."

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KEYWORD: FOOD

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