The New Zealand Government has been lobbying the United States Department of Agriculture not to introduce food origin labelling on meat, fish and other perishable agricultural goods.
Yes, of all things, the New Zealand government has been submitting comments to COOL in the US opposed to such a thing. Above and beyond the New Zealand government submitting comments, Meat and Wool New Zealand also submitted comments opposing US COOL. I really didn't know they were so scared of US beef down in New Zealand.
This opposition of US COOL was all done under the background of groups in New Zealand pushing for thier own COOL laws.
New Zealand now imports almost 1.5 million tonnes of food a year, and the Green Party says the public have a right to know what they are eating.
The party last month launched a campaign calling for mandatory country of origin food labelling.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Who will win this COOL fight here and in New Zealand. While I am not a big supporter of COOL, what is so bad about labeling meat to its country of origin? Isn't New Zealand proud of its product and want it labeled? If we are proud of ours shouldn't we label it? I don't think there is a food safety issue involved here, more a issue of national pride if nothing else.
I hate people like that... who have no pride in themselves. Katie Price
