2016‑2017

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Presented and read a first time

Competition and Consumer Amendment (Safeguarding the Reputation of Australian Beef) Bill 2017

No.      , 2017

(Ms Sharkie)

A Bill for an Act to amend the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, and for related purposes

Contents

1............ Short title............................................................................................. 1

2............ Commencement................................................................................... 1

3............ Schedules............................................................................................ 2

Schedule 1—Amendments                                                                                                3

Competition and Consumer Act 2010                                                                     3

A Bill for an Act to amend the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, and for related purposes

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

                   This Act is the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Safeguarding the Reputation of Australian Beef) Act 2017.

2  Commencement

             (1)  Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

Note:          This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.

             (2)  Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.

3  Schedules

                   Legislation that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1—Amendments

Competition and Consumer Act 2010

1  Part 3‑4 (heading) of Schedule 2

Repeal the heading, substitute:

Part 3‑4—Information in relation to goods and services

2  Before section 134 of Schedule 2

Insert:

Division 1—Information standards

3  At the end of Part 3‑4 of Schedule 2

Add:

Division 2—Information relating to exported cattle

137A  Cattle exporters to ensure no misrepresentations about Australian beef

             (1)  This section applies if:

                     (a)  a person is engaged in the business of exporting cattle; and

                     (b)  the cattle are slaughtered, or processed after slaughter, in a foreign country.

             (2)  The person must take all reasonable steps to ensure that no product that results from that slaughter or processing is marketed as Australian beef.

Note:          A pecuniary penalty may be imposed for a contravention of this subsection.

             (3)  In this section:

beef means the fresh or preserved flesh of cattle or calves, and includes beef products, beef by-products and edible offal.

cattle means bovine animals other than buffaloes.

market: a product is marketed as Australian beef if a representation is made in the course of trade or commerce (including any marking on a package, or statement in advertising) that the product is beef that has any connection with Australia.

processed means the dressing of cattle carcases or the treatment, packing, carriage, handling or storage of beef.

4  After subparagraph 224(1)(a)(ix) of Schedule 2

Insert:

                          (ixa)  section 137A(2);

5  Section 224(3) of Schedule 2 (after table item 13)

Insert:

6  Application

The amendments made by this Schedule apply in relation to cattle exported on or after the commencement of the Schedule.