New South Wales Minister for Trade and Industry Niall Blair

Red Tape Stops The Green And Gold Kangaroo

Victor P Taffa

Minister for Trade and Industry Niall Blair is calling on the Federal Government to fix a job-killing legal loophole, which means New South Wales (NSW) pharmaceutical manufacturers are unable to label their products as ‘Australian Made’.

Changes to Country of Origin laws amended the definition of what it means for a good to undergo a “substantial transformation” and subsequently qualify as “Australian Made”.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) guidelines on the new laws effectively make it impossible for Australian pharmaceuticals to ever qualify to use the term “Australian Made” again.

“With a stroke of a pen, the ACCC has taken away one of the largest competitive advantages that our complementary medicine and pharmaceutical manufacturers have in the global market.” Minister Blair said.

“Anyone who has visited one of these facilities, as I have, and seen what goes into the manufacturing process would understand that these products are proudly Australian-made and as such should be given this status.”

“This is a highly regulated, highly scientific industry which competes on a global scale, but at the moment it’s also having to compete against our own bureaucrats and their heavy-handed regulations.”

“We can’t put this $5 Billion industry at risk and that’s why I’m calling on the ACCC to immediately address this issue.”

Pharmaceutical medicines industry is one of the fastest growing manufacturing sectors in Australia. It supports 29,100 jobs across 82 manufacturers and pays $170 Million in wages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Our Australian pharmaceutical manufacturers are seeing a boom in activity fuelled by export demand from Asia. This success is based on our reputation for safe, clean and high-quality products which are communicated through the “Australian Made” stamp of approval.” Minister Blair said.

“New South Wales raised this issue at recent Industry and Trade Ministerial Council meetings and I have written to the Federal Government asking them to intervene.

“New guidelines jeopardise new investment and jobs in the sector across Australia, especially in Western Sydney.”