Australia's beef imports mislabelled

 

 

New Zealand beef imported by Australia has been mislabelled as China products, a gaffe that has embarrassed the Australian government.

 

The matter was revealed by the federal opposition.

 

Between March and May 2009, about 8.8 tonnes of frozen beef burger patties were recorded to have been imported from China, but the record was inaccurate as the beef actually came from New Zealand, said Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke.

 

Burke admitted that the mistake is unacceptable and should not have happened, but insisted there is no biosecurity risk as a result of the error.

 

Burke has called for a response from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) to ensure public confidence in the country's biosecurity system.

 

But not all were appeased.

 

The opposition's agriculture spokesman, John Cobb, questions why the beef was labelled as coming from China. He states the possibility that the New Zealand beef may have been shipped to China for processing before it was sent to Australia.

 

David Crombie, the president of National Farmers Federation, said Burke needs to explain whether the meat was processed in China, and information about the meat's origin and place of processing should be made clear.

 

He said they should be concerned if it was processed in China, where there are livestock diseases they do not want to be exposed to.

 

Beef products from New Zealand are allowed into Australia without an import permit while uncanned beef products from China are not allowed into Australia.