CMA are pleased to inform members that updated country of origin regulations are now in effect through the passage of the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Consumer Law-Country of Origin Representations) Regulations 2020 on 10 December 2020.

The passage of these Regulations represents years of work for the Complementary Medicines industry and provides stronger protections for industry by strengthening Country of Origin laws. The regulations prescribe, by law, a process of substantial transformation, rather than providing an example of a process that results in substantial transformation.

The regulations do not, at this stage, require industry members to undertake any technical change or different approach to that which has been taken under the existing safe harbour laws and the initial introduction of 92AA of the Regulations in December 2019. However, members should note that the progress of other changes to labelling where voluntary country of origin representations are made is still under Government consideration and may result in further changes in 2021.

Please read today's member alert for more information.