Common Sense Decision on Product Labels

Common Sense Decision on Product Labels

The Environmental Risk Management Authority’s (ERMA) common sense decision to amend labelling requirements for supermarket cleaning products will save consumers and grocery companies millions of dollars each year from unnecessary re-labelling solely for the New Zealand market, says New Zealand Food and Grocery Council (FGC) Chief Executive, Katherine Rich.

“FGC argued strongly that the 31 December 2010 expiry of New Zealand rules, which accepted product labelling complying with Australian, American, Canadian or European rules, would cause chaos for our members marketing cleaning products and impose costly “New Zealand only” re-labelling requirements for no additional benefit to the consumer.”

Mrs Rich says that many companies would have withdrawn certain products rather than re-label solely for the small New Zealand market. This would have left the New Zealand shopper worse off.

“New Zealand consumers would have ended up with limited ranges and reduced choice. This has been the experience with the regulatory barriers in the shampoo and toothpaste categories over the last 25 years.”

ERMA’s decision is a step forward in the Government’s strategy to reduce compliance costs and streamline business regulations with Australia, and other major trading partners, says Mrs Rich.

“We congratulate the Authority for making a sound, evidenced-based decision in response to industry concerns.” said Mrs Rich.

ENDS

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