ITW sees danger to animal welfare and consumer confidence
The Animal Welfare Initiative (ITW) sees the legislation passed by the German Bundestag last week Animal Husbandry Labeling Act significant deficiencies and speaks up with an urgent appeal. The fact that the law does not provide for regular on-site inspections of the pigsties at fixed intervals jeopardizes consumer confidence in the commitment of farmers.
Improvements in controls are mandatory
"There is an urgent need for improvement at this point," demands Robert Römer, Managing Director of the Animal Welfare Initiative (ITW). "State labeling of forms of husbandry that does not provide for regular controls - for example once a year - is a deceptive package that cannot meet the consumers' demand for reliable information at all. In addition, even if the vast majority of farmers do a first-class job when it comes to animal welfare, this law would benefit precisely those few who do not implement the requirements for animal welfare and thus endanger the reputation of the many conscientiously working professional colleagues.
Overall concept is missing - solution possible
Since, according to the draft law, German farms are obliged to participate in state labeling, there is also a competitive disadvantage compared to foreign farms. Participation is voluntary for them. Meat from abroad does not have to be labelled.
"This makes it clear that work still needs to be done on the overall concept," explains Dr. Alexander Hinrichs, Managing Director of the Animal Welfare Initiative (ITW). “It cannot be that we want to build an isolated solution for Germany in the middle of the European internal market when it comes to animal welfare. Equal rights, equal obligations – this principle must also apply to animal welfare. Cooperation between the state and private animal welfare programs should be a solution here. These privately organized programs can ensure the same conditions at home and abroad and at the same time create the necessary trust through regular controls. A solution is certainly possible, but politicians must now urgently show their colors!"
About the Initiative animal welfare
With the Tierwohl (ITW) initiative launched in 2015, the partners from agriculture, the meat industry, food retail and gastronomy commit themselves to their joint responsibility for animal husbandry, animal health and animal welfare in livestock husbandry. The animal welfare initiative supports farmers in implementing measures for the welfare of their livestock that go beyond the legal standards. The implementation of these measures is monitored across the board by the Animal Welfare Initiative. The Animal Welfare Initiative's product seal only identifies products that come from animals from participating companies in the Animal Welfare Initiative. The animal welfare initiative is gradually establishing more animal welfare on a broad basis and is continuously being further developed in the process.
