Supermarket beef prices a 'rip off'

The Australian Beef Association (ABA) says consumers are being ripped-off by supermarkets that are charging extraordinary prices for meat.

ABA director John Carter says a kilogram of Australian mince in Tokyo costs $8 to $10, while Australian shoppers are paying about $4 more.

He says there is no excuse for supermarkets to be charging such a mark-up, because Australia has the cheapest export cattle prices and Australian farmers are getting paid 25 to 40 per cent less than US beef producers.

Mr Carter has presented a report to the Australian Competition and Consumer Council (ACCC) to include in its inquiry into national grocery prices.

"We've now got figures from Japan showing just how absurd the whole thing is, that Australian beef in Japan is actually selling for less than it is in Australia, after they've paid a 38 per cent tariff to go into Japan," he said.

"The thing's getting sillier by the day."

Mr Carter says it is important the ACCC investigates the issue.

"The producers are losing money, most of the abattoirs are either breaking even or losing money, and nearly everybody else in the meat chain - livestock carriers etc are really battling," he said.