Chinese-made Aussie Beer attracts $10K fine

A Chinese-made product called 'Aussie Beer' has attracted the attention of the ACCC - and a $10,200 fine. Independent Liquor Group (ILG) released the product in 2014, featuring green-and-gold labelling and the statements “100% owned” within a map of Australia and “Australia’s finest malt”.

The ACCC issued the company with an infringement notice on the grounds that the product’s packaging and labelling suggested the product was made in Australia when it was in fact made in China, contravening the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

“Country-of-origin representations, particularly those designed to grab the eye of the consumer by using well-known symbols, colours or slogans, must be truthful,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.

“Consumers will often place a premium on the provenance of a product, but are unable to check the accuracy of those claims. This is particularly the case with Australian-made products which encourage consumers to support local industries. Consumers are entitled to expect that prominent representations made on packaging are accurate without having to check for disclosures in the fine print.”

According to the ACCC, paying a penalty specified in an infringement notice is not an admission that the company has contravened the ACL. The infringement notice issued to ILG is available on the infringement notices register.