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Aussie beer brewed in China

A liquor wholesaler has been fined $10,200 for trying to pass off a beer brewed in China as Australian.

Aussie Beer had green and gold labelling featuring the slogan `Australia's finest malt', plus the words `100% owned' within a map of Australia.

But it was brewed in China, and a co-operative of NSW and Queensland bottle shops, clubs and restaurants has been fined by the consumer watchdog for misleading consumers.

The Independent Liquor Group, which includes the Little Bottler, Super Cellars and Pubmart chains of bottle shops, supplied Aussie Beer between March and August 2014.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said the packaging was misleading and breached consumer law.

"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 are entitled to expect that prominent representations made on packaging are accurate without having to check for disclosures in the fine print."