Consumers require clear labelling of food to ensure that their aspirational choices on animal welfare can be turned into actual purchasing behaviour. Labelling also makes it possible for producers of higher welfare standards to gain due recognition for this and recover some of their increased production costs in the market place. Labelling is one of the least restrictive trade measures so can be a preferred legislative option.
In November 2009 the European Commission released their preferred options for labelling in the EU. These included providing better information to consumers and an economic incentive to producers to shift to higher welfare. They propose harmonising the requirements for welfare claims in voluntary labelling schemes, the establishment of a voluntary community label for animal welfare claims and drafting guidelines for animal welfare schemes.
The RSPCA would support the introduction of a European logo showing adherence to higher animal welfare standards, providing those standards were clearly above the baseline. We would also support moves to establish harmonised requirements for any voluntary claims made on animal welfare labels. Both options would make existing labelling more transparent and auditable, and would avoid problems of discrimination with products from non-EU countries.
For further information please download our brief below.
Labelling (October 2011) (pdf, 409kb)