Adoption of the Animal Husbandry Labeling Act
Consumers want to know under what conditions the animal whose product they have in their shopping basket was kept. The Federal Cabinet took an important step in this direction on Wednesday by passing the law introducing mandatory animal husbandry labeling by the state. Bioland welcomes the law, according to which there are five levels of animal husbandry, including a separate organic level.
"It's good that the planned labeling will be mandatory, in contrast to earlier initiatives by the previous government. The fact that the law also includes its own organic level is logical, because organic farms provide special services for animals and the environment - and they should consumers* can also clearly see," says Bioland President Jan Plagge.
According to Federal Minister of Agriculture Özdemir, the husbandry labeling, which is being gradually introduced and initially applies to fresh, unprocessed pork, is to be accompanied by a restructuring of animal husbandry in Germany. "The conversion of animal husbandry to better and more responsible animal husbandry with more animal welfare and less environmental damage is urgently needed - also to achieve the organic target of 30 percent by 2030," said Plagge. “Animal husbandry labeling is an important milestone on the way there. And it gives companies orientation for the conversion of their barns.”
Prioritization of the types of husbandry outdoors/free range and organic
The sufficient financing behind the mammoth project conversion of livestock farming has not yet been clarified. "Agriculture Minister Özdemir is making one billion euros available for the start of the conversion measures over the next four years - that will not be enough by far," comments Gerald Wehde, head of agricultural policy at Bioland. The partners in the traffic light coalition would have to agree on further financing – but the FDP in particular seems to be blocking this.
It is also still unclear how the available funds will ultimately be distributed. Gerald Wehde comments: “The types of husbandry that do the most for animal welfare and the environment are organic and outdoor/free range. The funds should therefore primarily go to the expansion of these forms of husbandry in the interests of animal and environmental protection.”
