New Zealand shoppers will soon be able to tell if they’re buying locally grown beef and lamb, or meat that is imported from Australia.

Beef & Lamb New Zealand – the marketing organisation funded by farmers, retailers and processors – says  from August 1 all beef and lamb not from New Zealand will be labelled as such.

Rod Slater, CEO, says retailers using the New Zealand Beef & Lamb quality mark have unanimously decided to use country of origin labelling.

That means labelling any Australian beef and lamb as “Product of Australia”.

“If beef and lamb is imported, it comes from Australia,” he said in a statement on Friday.

“It is mainly brought in if there is an occasional supply issue, or if companies are running particularly big promotions.

“Even so, it is great to be able to give customers a clear message, as we recognise country of origin is becoming increasingly important to Kiwis.”

Country of origin labelling applies to all packaged and some unpackaged food in Australia. It was extended to unpackaged beef, sheep and chicken meat last week.