The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is welcoming the government’s plans to look at reforming labels on animal products.
This comes after the UK government announced that they intend to “consider the potential role of method of production labelling reform as part of the UK government’s development of an overarching approach to animal welfare and the wider food strategy.”
Currently, labelling that identifies how an animal has been raised is not mandatory on food products in the UK.
According to the RSPCA, the conditions farm animals are reared under in the UK can differ greatly.
The lack of clear labelling can affect consumers’ ability to make informed decisions on produce and support farmers that promote a high standard of welfare towards their animals.
Head of Public Affairs at the RSPCA, David Bowles, said; “The public want to know where their food comes from so we’re incredibly pleased to see the UK Government publishing the outcome of this vital consultation.
“This brings us one step closer to giving the public the information they need to make informed choices about what they eat.”
The government announcement comes after over a year after an extensive consultation on method of production labelling, with the charity having previously issued calls for the results to be released.
Support for the proposal
The consultation showed 99% of individuals and 69% of organisations supported the plans to introduce labelling reforms on animal products with the UK government acknowledging this overwhelming level of approval.
With the UK government’s food strategy expected this summer, the RSPCA hopes it will be a milestone summer for animal welfare.
Bowles said; “For too long, consumers have only been able to rely on voluntary assurance schemes like RSPCA Assured, to drive up standards and keep them informed.
“This legislative change has the potential to drive up animal welfare further as consumers are given the opportunity to vote with their wallets to ensure farmed animals have better lives.”
RSPCA on importance of plans
With trade agreements looming, this decision by the government to consider reforming food labelling has come at a crucial time, according to the RSPCA. as products from countries whose laws do not promote animal welfare could soon be entering UK markets, with information on the animal not available to the consumer.
Bowles added: “There’s a concern that low welfare products could flood our supermarket shelves as a result of future trade deals, undercutting British farmers and resulting in some very unsavoury foods on our plates in terms of welfare standards.
“Consumers can already make a higher welfare choice with RSPCA Assured, but for many products they simply don’t have the information they need.”
Despite the plans to consider clearer labelling on chicken, pork, and eggs, the RSPCA have said that they are not finished campaigning until all animal produce – including dairy, fish, and other meats – is labelled on UK shelves.
