Australia has introduced "Country of Origin" labelling on Tuesday, but unfortunately those labels won't have the country of origin -- unless it is Australia.
Using some serious political power, Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce and Industry Minister Ian MacFarlane introduced the new gold kangaroo labels, complete with a percentage bar.
The labels will show the amount of "Australian" in each product -- whether the product is grown locally, or contains 100%, 75%, 50% or 25% of local ingredients. If the food is packed locally, the labels will have the country where the food was grown.
Companies will be encouraged, but not required, to provide additional information on their labels -– such as identifying the origin of key ingredients, the government advised in a statement emailed to Mashable Australia.
The Government's new "COOL" (country of origin labeling) to be in place by mid 2016. #agchatoz http://t.co/ojV3ZDxftu pic.twitter.com/AuWE7wUTwm— Alice Workman (@workmanalice) July 21, 2015
These "simple and straightforward" symbols cost the government A$37 million to implement and will be in place by mid next year, Abbott said at a press conference in Canberra.
The acronym COOL is being used for the new food standard, but some people don't think it quite deserves that status.
Outstanding. #CountryOfOrigin food labels that don't state the country of origin. Brilliant!! https://t.co/fPMaRlEk3S— Chris Karadaglis (@Shckwish) July 21, 2015
great URL guys pic.twitter.com/1IygfjRUbf— AB (probationary) (@adambrereton) July 21, 2015
Apparently it takes 2 ministers to develop a triangle and a gold bar symbol system. And a PM to announce it. #foodoforiginlabelling— Kristina Keneally (@KKeneally) July 21, 2015
@ABCNews24 What a crock! Why is there no Country of Origin shown on #CountryOfOrigin labels? A HUGE WASTE @LiberalAus #auspol— Richard Davies (@richinsydney) July 21, 2015
@ABCNews24 Is this another #Rugby tournament?? #CountryOfOrigin #ImFromAmerica— C-Sigma (@Nzallblack) July 21, 2015