Federal Council for mandatory state animal husbandry labeling
In an initial statement, the Bundesrat endorsed the draft law presented by the Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture, Cem Özdemir, on the labeling of foodstuffs with the husbandry form of the animals from which they were obtained (animal husbandry labeling law - TierHaltKennzG). This is another important step in promoting the conversion towards future-proof animal husbandry in Germany. In mid-December, the Bundestag will deal with the draft law for the first time.
Federal Minister Özdemir: "Consumers get a real choice for more animal welfare. Everyone can see how an animal whose meat you buy was kept: Transparency about husbandry means more consumer protection. We want animals to have more space. If fewer animals are kept better, this also means more climate protection.
Animal husbandry labeling is like running a marathon, today the bill in the Federal Council has taken another important step. So we're right on schedule after 16 years of nothing happening. We start with unprocessed pork – Further production stages, marketing channels and animal species will follow. If you don't take the first step, we won't make any progress in the end. The aim is that in the future every piece of meat will be labeled in a binding manner at every point of sale."
The conversion to a future-proof animal husbandry is urgently needed. Much has been said for years, but nothing has happened. Farmers have long been left alone. Businesses either had to grow or give way. As a result, many have given up or are about to.
Federal Minister Cem Özdemir: "Therefore it is also clear: the willingness of farmers to change must then also be of value to us as a society at the shop counter. This week we hit an important pillar in this regard. We have laid the foundations for a federal program in the federal budget Promotion of the conversion of animal husbandry created. Due to the acute problems in pig husbandry, a start is to be made in this area and animal-friendly sow husbandry should also be supported. The federal program is intended to promote investments in stable construction measures to comply with higher animal welfare standards. In addition - and this is crucial - the ongoing additional costs that arise from complying with higher animal welfare standards should be promoted. In addition to the fulfillment of husbandry-related criteria, animal welfare indicators such as an intact curly tail should also be taken into account. We are striving for the ongoing additional costs Contracts with a term of up to ten years. In this way, we can offer farmers reliable planning security."
Further information:
The Animal Husbandry Labeling Act creates the legal obligation to label foodstuffs of animal origin with the way the animals are kept. It also regulates the related obligations of the market participants at the various levels, i.e. the farmers or those who market the food. Five forms of husbandry are planned, starting with unprocessed pork. Other forms of processing, distribution channels and animal species will follow.
In addition to the mandatory labeling of animal husbandry, the overall project for future-proof animal husbandry includes three other central components: Adjustments to building and approval law, a funding concept for the conversion to more animal-friendly stables and better regulations in animal welfare law.
