A trans-Tasman review of food labeling might be investigating to find out whether food from New Zealand is making its way into Australia.

Foods coming into the OZ border are inspected by the biosecurity staff of OZ but this inspection is limited to those ‘risk foods’ and foods that have violated regulations previously, more often related to labeling.

The problem is that foods falling under ‘risk foods’ category is subject to the Australia's Imported Food Control Act, which means that rest of the food products coming in from any part of the world does not go through inspection.

Public consultations by the committee overseeing the review will be held in Wellington on March 25 and in Christchurch on March 26.

The review is working to make food-labeling standards consistent on both sides of the Tasman, and on when should the offenders should be warned or prosecuted. It is also to be decided whether national authority covering such issues should work as an agency or a stand-alone body.

It will also drum up support for the basics regarding the government’s participation.

Lydia Buchtmann, of Food Standards Australia New Zealand, said, “Country-of-origin laws are not about food safety. All the safety rules apply to both imported and local food. But it's a recognition that some consumers might prefer to buy Australian.''