Country of Origin Labelling and Purchasing Cut Flowers in Australia: What are the Social and Moral Considerations for Consumers?

Abstract

<p><i>Buying cut flowers is often central to celebrating significant life events or occasions around the world. Many of us though would be unsure or perhaps ambivalent about where these flowers are grown or who actually grows them. In Europe and America there has been widespread attention given to this issue as a result of campaigns that were directed to consumers relating to the working conditions and rates of pay that many cut flower workers receive. To date, these issues have not received the same amount of attention in Australia that they have received in the aforementioned regions. The main question that this article will address is whether or not this apparent lack of consumer awareness about where our cut flowers are sourced and the working conditions in the industry is a problem in need of reform. In order to analyse this issue, this article will discuss some of the concerns that have been addressed in the literature relating to the cut flower industry in some overseas jurisdictions and will then go on to discuss whether or not these issues are relevant in the Australian context and to the Australian cut flower industry. The article will also comment on whether country of labelling for cut flowers in Australia should be made mandatory as it is for edible products. In this regard corporate social responsibility and consumer responsibility theories will be discussed in order to canvass what the possible areas for reform may be in Australia.</i></p>