Foodlaw-Reading

Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK

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Food Law News - UK - 2021

DEFRA Consultation, 13 September 2021

LABELLING - DEFRA Consultation: Labelling for animal welfare: call for evidence

Consultation description

Defra wants to know what you think about possible reforms to food labelling for animal welfare. The aim is to give Defra an understanding of how this might impact business, farmers, and consumers.

Defra wants to hear your views on which welfare standards could form the basis of a possible food label for animal welfare, and what the label might look like. Defra is also looking for information on the potential scope, regulation, and enforcement of such a labelling scheme.

The consultation is provided on-line and can be accessed on the DEFRA website from: Call for Evidence - Labelling for Animal Welfare. The consultation closes on 6 December 2021.

The following is the 'Overview' provided by the Rt Hon Victoria Prentis MP, Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) on the consultation web page:

Overview

One of the first things I did as a minister was to take the Agriculture Bill through Parliament. Now the Agriculture Act 2020, it has given us the legislative framework to set the basis for future farming policy.  We will support farmers to improve the environment, increase animal health and welfare, and reduce carbon emissions – while of course producing high-quality, delicious food. 

As a nation we care enormously about animal welfare and increasingly about environmental standards. Consumer information and labelling are part of the toolbox that we have when it comes to creating a better food system for people and the planet. It is something that we will be considering in detail with industry and stakeholders in the weeks and months ahead. 

It is an exciting time for our agri-food sector. Our new agricultural schemes will soon begin to reward farmers for improving both the environment and animal health and welfare. Reforms to labelling and consumer information could enable us better to connect farmers in our schemes through the supply chain to consumers, recognising the whole farm picture and stimulating demand for environmentally friendly and high welfare products and improving profitability. 

I also want to make sure that our labelling reforms support our trade policy by promoting the interests of our farmers and food producers. Our manifesto was very explicit that in all of our trade negotiations, we will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards.  I want us to ensure that consumers are able to differentiate between products that meet or exceed the UK’s high welfare standards and those that do not. 

We know that the public is largely in favour of the Government setting further standards to ensure greater consistency and understanding of welfare information at the point of purchase. This will also be a key consideration in our Food Strategy White Paper, which we have committed to publish within six months of the publication of Henry Dimbleby’s recent review. We will also be exploring other complementary market interventions, including mandatory disclosure of welfare standards. 

Any changes that we make must be user-friendly for our agri-food businesses, and I am very mindful of the importance of ensuring that any changes are simple, considered in the round, and do not place additional cost burdens on business. It is a moment of great opportunity for our food system, and the wider agri-food industry. This call for evidence is an important step alongside our wide review of food labelling for the Food Strategy White Paper. We hope we can use this evidence to work with you to identify any improvements to food labelling and consumer information that deliver the high welfare and environmental outcomes we all support.

The Rt Hon Victoria Prentis MP, Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)r


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