Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1
On 23 June 2014, the Senate referred the following matter to the Senate
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee (committee) for
inquiry and report by 27 October 2014:
- The current requirements for
labelling of seafood and seafood products, with particular reference to the
following matters:
- whether the current
requirements provide consumers with sufficient information to make informed
choices, including choices based on sustainability and provenance preferences,
regarding their purchases;
- whether the current
requirements allow for best-practice traceability of product chain-of-custody;
- the regulations in other
jurisdictions, with particular reference to the standards in the European Union
(EU) under the common market regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 Article 35;
- the need for consistent
definitions and use of terms in product labelling, including catch area,
species names, production method (including gear category), and taking into
account Food and Agriculture Organisation guidelines;
- the need for labelling
for cooked or pre-prepared seafood products with reference to the Northern
Territory‘s seafood country of origin regulation;
- recommendations for the
provision of consumer information as determined through the Common Language
Group process conducted by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation;
- whether current
labelling laws allow domestic seafood producers to compete on even terms with
imported seafood products; and
- any related matters.
1.2
On 2 October, the Senate agreed to extend the tabling date for the
committee's report to 4 December 2014. On 27 November, the Senate granted a
further extension of time, requiring the committee to report by 18 December
2014.
Conduct of inquiry
1.3
The inquiry was advertised in The Australian and through
the Internet. The committee invited submissions from interested organisations
and bodies as well as individuals.
1.4
The committee received 23 public submissions. A list of individuals and
organisations that made submissions to the inquiry together with other
information authorised for publication is at Appendix 1. The committee held
public hearings in Sydney on 29 September and Darwin on 13 November 2014.
Details of the public hearings are referred to in Appendix 2. The submissions
and Hansard transcript of evidence may be accessed through the committee's
website at: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Rural_and_Regional_Affairs_and_Transport
Australian seafood industry
1.5
In 2010–11, Australian fisheries production amounted to $2.26 billion
(including $1.31 billion wild-harvest and $0.948 billion aquaculture), with a
total harvest of 234,000 tonnes. The value of fisheries exports totalled $1.2
billion and imports $1.5 billion.[1]
1.6
Australian fisheries are highly regulated. Managed under the principles
of ecological sustainable development, the fisheries are maintained not only
for the long-term sustainability of the target species, but also for the sustainability
of the broader marine environment. According to the Master Fish Merchants
Association of Australia (MFMA), Australian fisheries are internationally
recognised as some of the best managed in the world for these reasons.[2]
Considerable evidence to the committee upheld the view that the combination of
quality, range and sustainability credentials of Australia-produced seafood has
enabled it to become highly valued both domestically and overseas.[3]
Seafood consumption in Australia
1.7
Seafood consumption in Australia has doubled since 1975.[4]
Evidence to the committee suggested that around 75 per cent of all seafood consumed
in Australia now comprises imported fish and fish products.[5]
The Australian Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) noted that
imported seafood typically makes up more than half of the seafood range in the
major supermarket chains.[6]
This includes some 250 different species/product from both aquaculture and wild
catch fisheries.[7]
According to MFMA, Australia's dependence on imported product is due to the
nature of Australian fisheries which are high quality, high value but low
volume due to the lack of major upwellings (nutrient rich currents) and
naturally low nutrient levels in the waters which limit productivity.[8]
However, with an extensive fishing zone and diverse climatic and marine
conditions, Australia produces a wide variety of seafood, both wild caught and
farmed.[9]
1.8
Despite Australia's reliance on imported seafood and seafood products, according
to research conducted in 2006, around 70 per cent of Australian consumers
prefer local seafood to imported seafood.[10]
Consumer research findings reveal that country of origin is second only to
freshness in guiding consumer choices. According to various sources, research
into this area has revealed that Australian consumers want to buy Australian produce
with 90 per cent of Australians more likely to buy food products labelled 'Made
in Australia'. However, evidence suggested that consumers are unable to readily
identify the origin of seafood they buy and may be under the false impression or
natural impression that they are consuming Australian seafood when actually
consuming imported product.[11]
Acknowledgement
1.9
The committee would to thank the individuals and organisations who
contributed to the inquiry.
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