Food labelling
MEPs send Commission back to drawing board and vote for full lifecycle labelling of meat
A motion tabled by the Greens to reject new rules proposed by the European Commission on origin labelling for meat was endorsed in a European Parliament vote today. The Greens welcomed the outcome and called on the Commission to come forward with new and more comprehensive proposals, with Green food safety spokesperson Carl Schlyter stating:
"MEPs have today voted to send the European Commission back to the drawing board, as regards EU rules on the labelling of meat. Parliament supported a Green motion, which would ensure full lifecycle labelling for meat, including country of birth.
"Recent food scandals, notably regarding meat products, have underlined the need for full transparency in the food production chain. Displaying this information is also an important tool for meat-eaters who want to choose to eat meat from animals that did not suffer the stress of long-distance transport, given the failure to reduce animal transport times in the EU.
"The proposal from the Commission would provide only for the country of rearing and slaughter to be named on the label but not the country of birth. This must be redressed. While today's vote is not binding, we hope the Commission will heed the outcome and come forward with a new proposal providing for full transparency."
