Standards Australia is to develop Australia’s first national domestic organic standard that has widespread industry, consumer and government support.

The ACCC has called on food and beverage manufacturers to curb their use of potentially misleading labels when marketing goods to customers.

The Australian organic sector has united behind its peak industry organisation the Organic Federation of Australia (OFA), stated Andre Leu, chair of the OFA.

Consumers International has accused Australia of playing double standards at the 33rd Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling, which aims to set an international standard for labelling genetically modified (GM) food and food ingredients.

US government to have direct input into Australian laws and policies on quarantine and technical standards, including labelling of GE food.

Premier Bob Carr announces the ban on the production of GM food crops (such as canola, clover, mustard and field peas) until 2006 in New South Wales, Australias most populous state.