EU agricultural ministers have given the green light to an EU-wide animal welfare labelling system, although plans for front of pack nutrition and origin labelling have been shelved for the moment.
The approval of conclusions on an EU-wide animal welfare label, taken during the last Agrifish Council of the German presidency on Tuesday (15 December), paves the way for the European Commission to submit a proposal for a harmonised label on food produced under animal welfare standards higher than those in EU legislation.
Through the conclusions, ministers also agreed to gradually include all livestock species in the label over the entire course of their lifetime, including transport and slaughter, and ensure smooth interplay with existing labelling.