Meat Marketing

The Committee’s marketing objectives are to:

• Maintain to $5 MLA marketing levy
• Continually review and have input into the Food Amendment (Meat Grading) Bill 2009

MLA Marketing Levy

Meat & Livestock Australia ('MLA') members voted to maintain the cattle transaction levy at its current rate of $5 per head at the MLA Annual General Meeting in Darwin on 19 November 2009. 72.5% of votes cast were in favour of the levy. The Association has been publicly supporting the retention of the levy since Annual Conference, where Members adopted policy to retain the $5 Levy.

This levy contributes to invaluable marketing of Australian beef in both domestic and international markets. The Cattle Committee believes that the maintenance of the levy is essential to an industry where there will be a number of challenges in the future. One of which is the increasing amount of misinformation in the community, particularly in regard to the impact the beef industry has on the environment. The levy aids in creating market opportunities, such as establishing offices in emerging markets, strengthening Australia’s export market and helping Australia to capitalise on the absence of the US in Japanese and Korean markets. With the US ramping up sales in these markets, the levy is vital in maintaining our valuable position.

Food Amendment (Beef Labelling) Act 2009

The Food Amendment (Beef Labelling) Act was passed in the NSW Parliament late last year. The Cattle Committee supports the intent of the Bill and the concept of truth in labelling, however, the Association has some concerns with the Bill. The Committee is concerned that the Minister may be able to regulate the AUS-MEAT language, and believe that any changes to AUS-MEAT should be made by industry. The Committee also has some wording concerns, particularly in regards to the inclusion of words such as “budget”, “low grade, “low quality” and the impact that the words would have on consumers when purchasing meat.

As a result of industry concerns in regard to the ramifications of the Bill, the NSW Food Authority developed the Beef Labelling Reference Group. Richard Chamen, Chairman of the Cattle Committee represents the Association on the Reference Group.

The Cattle Committee continues to work with industry, to ensure the best results for our Members.

Fact sheets

• Food Amendment (Beef Labelling) Bill 2009