The State Government today announced a $500,000 funding package for a new voluntary certification and marketing scheme for WA food, and for the annual pesticide testing of fruit and vegetables.
The State Government today announced a $500,000 funding package for a new voluntary certification and marketing scheme for WA food, and for the annual pesticide testing of fruit and vegetables.
Agriculture and Food Minister Kim Chance said the proposed 'Buy WA Food First' scheme would replace the current 'Buy WA First' campaign for food products, offering a voluntary option to label food products on the basis of State of Origin.
"Consultation with industry will determine the extent of the new campaign based on the industry's willingness to contribute to the scheme," he said.
"This will be undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food which will develop and manage the new scheme, together with the Department of Industry and Resources, which is currently responsible for the existing 'Buy WA First' campaign."
The Minister said the initiatives were part of the Government's response to recommendations from the Economics and Industry Standing Committee report, tabled in the Legislative Assembly in March this year. The State Government had accepted all 11 recommendations of the report.
"The differentiation of local produce through the introduction of a 'Buy WA Food First' campaign will offer support to local producers, who mainly operate in regional areas," he said.
"It has the potential to significantly increase the volume of WA's $4 billion food sector.
The creation and ongoing servicing of the proposed 'Buy WA Food First' campaign is estimated at $300,000 for the 2006-07 period.
Mr Chance said the project would include engaging a specialist in retail and food industry matters to facilitate the uptake of the new system; design and production of the marketing campaign, including on-product and on-shelf promotional material, as well as media promotion to raise the recognition of the new scheme.
In addition, the Minister said the proposed annual pesticide residue survey of fresh fruit and vegetables to be funded through the Department of Health at a cost of $200,000 per year would help ensure a safer food supply for WA consumers.
"Currently pesticide residue surveys are conducted under the WA Food Monitoring Program on fresh produce every two to three years," he said.
"The Government agrees with the EISC's view that the recent increase in imports of fresh foods necessitates the broadening of the survey, and accepts its recommendation that the survey be undertaken more frequently to ensure public safety."
Mr Chance said more frequent tests would provide more timely information on the pesticide residue status of locally grown and imported fresh fruit and vegetables on offer to WA consumers.
"They will include checks for a range of chemicals, including those banned in Australia, that are still used in other countries," he said.
The Minister said violations of pesticide residue limits would be dealt with according to existing regulations.
A related press release from the Western Australian Farmers Federation is pasted below
The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc.) (WAFarmers) has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Kim Chance, of funding to implement the recommendations of the Government's Economics and Industry Standing Committee report on its Inquiry into the Production and Marketing of Foodstuffs.
WAFarmers President Trevor De Landgrafft said that today's announcement was timely as WAFarmers has been lobbying for the current "Buy WA First" campaign to be ramped up for some time and has been awaiting the Government's announcement since a presentation by the Standing Committee's chair, Jaye Radisich, at a WAFarmers forum in February.
"In welcoming the Minister's announcement, I do have some reservations on the level of funding committed and exactly what the Minister's expectations of the 'industry's willingness to contribute to the scheme' means. I will be taking these issues up with him in the near future.
"Given the record budget surplus announced yesterday by the Treasurer, the announcement of one year's funding for promotional activities is disappointing. This is not a campaign that deserves a short shelf-life, it has to be ongoing if the Government is to be seen as genuine in its stated commitment to regional development.
"I also have concerns at the expectations placed on local governments to meet their responsibilities with regard to food safety. Regional shires are hardly rolling in cash at present and the current difficult season will exacerbate existing budgetary challenges. If the State Government is proposing to fund chemical training for farm workers, it is fair to expect that they could assist regional shires as a further example of their commitment to regional development.
"All up, the total cost of fully funding these recommendations would have minimal impact on the current budget surplus and ongoing budget commitments."
WAFarmers is also pleased that the State Government is going to tackle the Federal Government and AQIS on pesticide screening of imported produce and transparency in reporting of inspection results.
"Australian growers believe that imported produce gets an easy ride into Australian markets whereas Australian growers are required to negotiate a maze of red tape to access export markets. The narrowing of this gap will be appreciated by growers and WAFarmers will support the State Government in their endeavours in this regard.
"Likewise positive steps to address the issues of labour shortages and inequities in the Trade Practices legislation have the support of WAFarmers." Mr De Landgrafft said.
