Animal husbandry labeling must not come like this!

The Animal Welfare Initiative (ITW) resolutely rejects the draft law of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). The intended law is largely incomplete, unnecessary and harbors major risks for animal welfare in Germany, according to the ITW in its statement on the draft bill The Law.

According to the draft, only fresh meat from fattening pigs should be covered by the label; gastronomy is left out.

The draft also does not clearly regulate the verification of animal welfare measures in the barn. In addition, the German state or the responsible authorities are not allowed to control foreign companies.

"This would put pig farming in Germany at a competitive disadvantage by politicians," explains Robert Römer, Managing Director of ITW. "It would create an unnecessary bureaucratic monster, the costs and benefits of which we believe have not been realistically assessed."

Should the law come into force as planned, the continued existence of the diverse standards and systems of the economy would be endangered. Because an animal-keeping company is subject to strict checks by participating in a standard or system of the economy, which it can easily undermine and avoid by participating in the planned state animal husbandry labeling.

“The many honest and committed farmers who have been implementing more animal welfare for years would be left behind. The law must not be implemented like this!” Römer continued.

The points of criticism in detail can be found in the attached statement and under www.initiative-tierwohl.de/presse