BVA supports food labelling proposals
BVA says new labelling would allow consumers to make informed choices about the products they buy.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has welcomed new food labelling proposals, which are intended to provided better transparency on food origins and methods of production.
It said that these proposals would be key for consumers to make informed choices about the animal products they buy, ensuring that proper welfare standards are followed.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) first announced the consultation, which launched on Tuesday, 12 March, in January this year. It said that the consultation would build upon the government’s commitment to supporting farmers.
The consultation will consider how country of origin labelling can be more clearly presented. This would include how and where the information is presented, and on which products it is included.
This would be particularly relevant where animal products are partially produced in the UK, but the animals are reared abroad.
It also details proposals to require a ‘method of production’ label on pork, chicken and eggs. This would include mandatory five-tier labels for domestic and imported products, differentiating products which fall below, meet and exceed UK welfare regulations.
Steve Barclay, environment secretary, said that British consumers want to buy produced by British farmers, who comply with welfare regulations, but unclear labelling has prevented this.
He said: “That is why I want to make labelling showing where and how food is produced fairer and easier to understand – empowering consumers to make informed choices and rewarding our British farmers for producing high-quality, high-welfare food.”
BVA has shared its support for the consultation, stating that clear and fair labelling is important to ensure consumers can make informed choices about animal products they buy.
It said that the five-tier labelling system would provide a clear and meaningful method of communicating welfare standards to consumers.
However, it also expressed concern about the government’s decision to label products which did not meet the UK’s welfare standards. BVA said that, with products in the UK legally required to meet these standards, they believe the government must ensure all trading partners comply in future trade deals.
BVA president Anna Judson said: “We urge the government to take this into serious consideration when firming up the detail and to ensure it engages with the animal welfare sector and veterinary profession to ensure the UK maintains the high standard of animal welfare it is renowned for.”
Image © Shutterstock
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
