Country of origin labelling

We live in a modern developed society where risk management is considered central to everyday life. The wish to know where the food we eat comes from seems to not only stem from that aversion to risk but to be somewhat instinctive. The lengths companies and countries alike take to identify their wares through the use of marketing messages must surely be linked to that idea. It allows them to develop and retain a loyal group of consumers who benefit from knowing enough about a ‘product’ to be confident in their purchase.  Calls for country of origin labelling have come from consumers and industry alike with many countries having adopted such requirements. For shoppers it would appear that the benefits of country of origin labelling are obvious. The question is, if there are disadvantages to such a practice, could someone please explain what they are?

The Green Party have advocated country of origin labelling for a long time and were obviously delighted at Australia’s recent move to apply it to meat products as stated in their press release below. (Ed)

 The Government must follow Australia's example and bring in country of origin labelling for meat products, the Green Party said today.
Yesterday Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) approved country of origin labelling on unpackaged meat on the request of the Australian Government while the New Zealand Government continued to opt out of this standard.
"We too have a right to know where our food is from and how it's produced. Australians now know where their meat is produced while the New Zealand Government is effectively withholding this information from New Zealanders," said Green Party Spokesperson on Food Mojo Mathers.
New Zealanders are left in the dark and are unable to make informed choices about the food they eat
"The Green Party have been calling for country of origin labelling for years and we have a Members Bill ready to go that the Government could adopt that will help New Zealand consumers support our own producers," said Ms Mathers.
"Without these regulations New Zealanders are left in the dark and are unable to make informed choices about the food they eat.
"Our pork industry in particular is suffering because they have to compete with imported meat produced with lower food safety, animal welfare, and environmental standards than ours.
"Consumers have the right to be able to make informed decisions about the food they eat.
"My Consumer's Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill will take us up to the same level as Australia and go a step further by including processed meats such as bacon."

Green Party press release 3.6.2013