Defra drops consultation on animal welfare labels for food
The proposals would have required welfare labelling on pork products.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has dropped plans for a new consultation on whether to introduce mandatory animal welfare labelling on food, saying that now was not the right time to consult on proposals.
The plans being considered would have required certain food products to be labelled with information about the animal welfare standards followed by the producers. It was hoped this transparency would help consumers make better informed decisions when buying food.
Although welfare labels on eggs have been compulsory since 2004, there is currently no obligation to provide consumers with information about the welfare of animals used to produce other types of food.
An initial call for evidence in 2021 received 1,633 responses. Animal-welfare organisations and members of the public were generally in favour of mandatory labelling, whereas industry voices were concerned about the burden that it would place on businesses and farmers.
The move to drop the new consultation has been welcomed by the National Pig Association. Their chief executive Lizzie Wilson said: “We as an organisation argued strongly behind the scenes that compulsory welfare labelling would be a blunt tool that adds costs across the chain, while doing nothing to educate consumers about real welfare on farms.
“Our [Pig Industry Group] made it very clear to Defra that you cannot equate welfare with method of production and that the proposed system would likely confuse, rather than inform.
“We welcome the fact that Defra has listened to us and others throughout the supply chain on this and will continue to work with them to ensure any future moves to increase transparency in the pork supply chain are proportionate and effective.”
However, animal-welfare organisations have spoken of their disappointment. James West, chief public affairs manager at Compassion in World Farming, said: “Ultimately, this U-turn could leave shoppers in the dark and animals suffering behind vague, even misleading food labels.
“Since 2004, eggs have been labelled to state how hens are housed and now, the majority of the UK’s hens live cage-free. So, extending welfare labelling could be a huge step towards transforming the lives of millions of animals. Animal welfare labelling could also play an important role in helping consumers identify lower welfare products imported from other countries, and in supporting the UK’s higher welfare farmers.
“This is yet another broken promise and it’s simply not good enough. If not now, when is the right time to introduce animal welfare labelling?”
Although the planned consultation has been dropped, the Government has said that it is still committed to making it easier for customers to choose high-welfare products. A Defra spokeperson said: “We are proud to have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world.
“We will continue to work with farmers and supermarkets to improve food information for consumers and support the production of healthier, higher welfare animals through our Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.”
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
