New labeling comes into force
The expansion of the origin labeling of meat came into force on February 1, 2024. It is then mandatory at points of sale to indicate where non-prepackaged fresh, chilled or frozen pork, sheep, goat and poultry meat comes from. Previously, the regulation only applied to unpackaged beef meat as well as packaged meat. With the corresponding regulation presented by Federal Minister Cem Özdemir, the federal government is fulfilling a long-held wish from agriculture.
Consumers want – and should – know where their food comes from. This is shown, among other things, by the nutrition report from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). We are therefore committed to mandatory indications of origin for other foods as well. The question of expanding origin labeling in food labeling law is part of the EU Commission's Farm to Fork strategy. The EU Commission is currently examining whether to extend mandatory indications of origin to other foods. The BMEL fundamentally supports the EU Commission's plans. However, since the EU Commission has not yet submitted a legislative proposal, the BMEL is currently considering expanding the labeling of origin for meat in out-of-home catering.
