A European label to indicate food produced taking into account animal welfare. This proposal has been presented in recent days in the EU institutions (Agriculture Council) by Germany, with the accession of more than 15 countries including Italy, France and Spain. Moreover, the United States has already started similar procedures on its own, with different requirements that risk fragmenting the EU market.
IMPROVING FOOD QUALITY
“We strongly believe that food labelling, regulated at European level, can act as a driver for the improvement of our farming systems, reduce drug consumption, and improve quality and consumer confidence.” This is what Italy’s Minister of Agriculture Teresa Bellanova said at the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers in Brussels on the subject of animal welfare labelling.
MORE INFORMATION TO CONSUMERS ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE
“Providing information to the consumer, as complete as possible, in order to allow an informed choice on food also on the main ethical issues is becoming a factor of competitiveness that should not be underestimated,” highlighted Minister Bellanova.
“The time has come to introduce a transparent labelling system, based on strict compliance with production rules able to enhance the best zootechnical practices and, in compliance with bio safety, outdoor farming” – the minister said.
WHAT ITALY IS DOING
“In Italy – Teresa Bellanova added – we are aiming at a complete integration between planning actions and controls implemented along the production supply chains. To support the certification and labelling of animal origin products we intend to use the ‘Classyfarm’ system. It is a system to measure animal welfare, and last November in Helsinki it has been presented to the EU Chief Veterinary Services.”