SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) — Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has backed plans to introduce country-of-origin labelling in the wake of a hepatitis A outbreak, which potentially risks contravening World Trade Organization rules.
Eighteen confirmed cases of hepatitis A have been linked to the consumption of berries sold by Patties Foods Ltd.
Abbott said he had asked members of his cabinet to draft legislation by the end of March to provide greater transparency to consumers.
It marked a reversal of his previous position that such legislation would raise the cost of food.
Australia was among plaintiffs against the United States after it introduced its stronger COOL laws for beef products last year.
The WTO ruled against the U.S. in October, arguing that COOL provided an incentive to favour domestic livestock.
Gerard McManus, a spokesperson for Australia’s agricultural minister, said Abbott had told the minister to ensure the proposed legislation did not fall foul of WTO legislation.
The hepatitis A outbreak has been linked to poor water supplies in a Chinese packaging plant.
