NZ Govt denies label removal
The denial comes after an accusation by members of political party The Greens who say a comment made by Kiwi Prime Minister Helen Clark in parliament this week suggests labels will be removed if issues surrounding import tariffs can be resolved.
However in response to the allegations, a Minister of Commerce spokesperson said there were no plans to remove labels from either imported or domestic clothing. The spokesman said rules on labelling were set by the Commerce Commission and were not directly related to import tariffs.
Green consumer affairs spokesperson Sue Kedgley said consumers would be alarmed by the plans
"I am utterly dismayed that the government is intending to get rid of the requirement for labels on clothing and footwear identifying where it has come from. Without this, consumers have no idea whether they are buying t-shirts from China or Christchurch, Levin or London. Such a move would undermine both our fragile textile industry and the Buy Kiwi Made campaign," Kedgley said.
She said Australia had gone in the opposite direction. It required country of origin labelling for goods as diverse as food, medicines, kitchenware, textiles, jewellery, leather products, electrical items, toys, footwear and apparel.