THE government is considering toughening up import screening procedures following a food contamination scare, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says.
COMPANIES also have to lift their game, Mr Abbott says, after numerous people who had eaten imported frozen berries tested positive to hepatitis A.
“The bottom line is that companies shouldn’t be poisoning their customers,” the prime minister told ABC radio on Wednesday. “Businesses have an obligation to their customers.” However Mr Abbott was cool on calls for changes to labelling following the recall of the Chinese-grown berries. More red-tape and regulation of the private sector could lead to soaring food costs, he said. “We want safe products but we want safe products at a fair price. Some price is worth paying, but it’s got to be a careful balancing act.” Mr Abbott said he had to respect consumers’ “financial health as well as other aspects of their health”. Farmers have called for an overhaul of labelling to help people identify Australian grown and packaged food.