The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has welcomed information that the UK authorities is about to launch a session into clearer meals labelling.
The RSPCA mentioned clearer labelling on meals imported from overseas, and particularly these that don’t meet UK welfare requirements, may very well be a “lifeline” to British farmers who’re susceptible to being undercut by “cheap, low welfare imports flooding our shelves through free trade agreements”.
Environment Secretary Steve Barclay introduced the session on the Oxford Farming Conference at the moment (Thursday, January 4).
Barclay mentioned the UK authorities will “rapidly consult on clearer labelling so we can tackle the unfairness created by misleading labelling and protect farmers and consumers”.
RSPCA head of public affairs, David Bowles mentioned the charity has been campaigning for larger transparency on animal merchandise for a while in an effort to give shoppers an “informed choice” concerning the merchandise they purchase.
The charity is urging the UK authorities to not solely seek the advice of on offering clear labelling for home and/or greater welfare merchandise however clear methodology of manufacturing labelling throughout the board to provide shoppers details about how the animals have been cared for.
“Currently, there is little information available to consumers to show them how farm animals have been reared,” he mentioned.
“Instead, the general public could be proven pictures of rolling inexperienced hills and animals within the sunshine which could be extremely deceptive and never reflective of actuality in lots of circumstances.
“This is especially true of intensive farming practices which still account for around 70% of all land farming in the UK.”
Animal welfare
An RSPCA survey carried out on 2,560 folks in March of final 12 months revealed that 81% imagine having a degree of data concerning the situation that animals have been reared and stored in it necessary when buying merchandise.
It additionally revealed that 79% of individuals imagine that they’ll enhance animal welfare via their buying habits.
“We welcome the commitment to bring in labelling on processed food as well as primary products and to update our procurement standards to encourage higher welfare food can be served in our prisons and schools,” Bowles mentioned.
“We now sit up for working with the UK authorities to agree clearer welfare labelling guidelines on meals merchandise this 12 months – and making certain these proposals grow to be a actuality.
“In the meantime, those concerned about this issue can always look for the RSPCA Assured label in their local supermarket – the RSPCA’s higher welfare farm assurance scheme.”
