State animal husbandry labeling with large gaps
As various media reports, a draft law on state animal husbandry labeling is currently circulating within the federal government. So far, this has been a model of no value for the German poultry industry: the paper is largely limited to the retail marketing channel, ignoring the entire area of out-of-home consumption and gastronomy and also forgets to include processed meat products in the regulatory area. "The present draft bill cannot and must not become law in this form," criticizes Friedrich-Otto Ripke, President of the Central Association of the German Poultry Industry (ZDG).
The draft bill builds on the key issues paper for state animal husbandry labeling recently presented by Federal Minister Cem Özdemir. A mandatory mark on meat packaging is planned, which will in future provide consumers with transparent information about how an animal was kept in Germany.
For ZDG President Friedrich-Otto Ripke, the draft submitted is a slap in the face for German meat producers: “This would make Germany, with its animal keepers and companies, a place of livestock completely uncompetitive within the EU. Not a single syllable is explained to local farmers as to how they are to finance the required conversion of their stables. In addition to these enormous financial burdens, there is still no provision for mandatory labeling of origin on all marketing channels as a clear indication and appreciation of German goods. That cannot work – especially not in times of inflation with a clear trend towards buying cheaper groceries.”
The application to all out-of-home consumption is also not provided for in the draft law. “Our federal minister knowingly forgets to regulate more than half of the market. More than 50% of meat sales flow into this area. Here in particular, more transparency about the husbandry and origin of animals would be particularly important. To dispense with the mandatory labeling there is deadly for domestic value creation in the long term," Ripke continued. Foreign goods with significantly lower animal husbandry standards will be processed even more in gastronomy, canteens and wholesalers and displace German goods: “Federal Minister Özdemir is actively triggering meat imports with the proposal from his house that has become public. That cannot and must not be his intention and the Bundestag must prevent this!”
The ZDG President notes that, for constitutional reasons, the Bundestag cannot accept that no further labels for the type of husbandry should be allowed in addition to the state husbandry label. “We will not allow ourselves to be banned from the tried-and-tested label of the Animal Welfare Initiative, which is now well known to three quarters of German consumers and which is present on over 80% of foods containing poultry!” stresses Friedrich-Otto Ripke.
Urgent adjustment of EU marketing standards for poultry meat required
As expected, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) is initially limiting its draft to the obligation to label pigs. A time horizon for expanding to other animal species such as poultry is not specified - only the vague intention. "This is more than regrettable, because poultry meat is in increasing demand and already plays an important role in the Animal Welfare Initiative. So attitude labeling would be a lazy and incomplete compromise to begin with. Why this hanging game? Because the BMEL and Minister Özdemir are reluctant to finally actively and vigorously push ahead with the urgently needed revision of the EU marketing standards for poultry meat in Brussels," ZDG President Ripke calls for more speed at European level.
In order to enable future-proof animal husbandry in Germany and thus guarantee food security for the local population, the political will to implement holistic solutions is required.
The key points from the point of view of the German poultry industry are:
- Clarify the question of financing and guarantee animal owners secure reimbursement of additional costs over 20 years.
- Combine mandatory husbandry and origin labeling.
- Include out-of-home areas with gastronomy, canteens and wholesalers.
- Legally enable companies to implement higher levels of husbandry at all (adaptation of building law, opening clause TA-Luft).
- Amending the EU marketing standards for poultry meat to pave the way for labeling - across Europe!
According to Ripke, all political leaders across party lines must now quickly close the gaps in the draft law on state animal husbandry labeling: “The arguments are on the table. There is still time for the urgently needed amendments to the law so that, after years of discussion, a viable and future-oriented concept can finally be launched. As designed by the BMEL, it remains a model without value and endangers Germany as a location for livestock. We are still willing and happy to work together constructively," emphasizes the ZDG President. “We have repeatedly asked for appropriate discussions in competent circles. The earliest appointment offer from the BMEL to the ZDG is November 18, 2022 – seriously?”
About the ZDG
The Central Association of the German Poultry Industry e. V., as a professional umbrella and umbrella organization, represents the interests of the German poultry industry at federal and EU level vis-à-vis political, official and professional organisations, the public and abroad. The approximately 8.000 members are organized in federal and state associations.
