Animal Husbandry - Movement in Meat Labeling
Summertime is Grill Season - and traditionally a high season for steaks and sausages from the supermarket. Many meat packaging labels already provide information about how the animals lived in the barn. And something is happening now.
A well-known marker in the trade is supposed to be reshaped from July onwards. And for the future state logo, which is expected to come into effect in the middle of 2025, the concrete preparations have begun: Pig farming operations must report which housing system they have by August 1, 2022. However, the implementation by the states is lagging behind.
Just before the deadline, it was unclear where the declarations should be sent. According to a survey by the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food, Niedersachsen, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Thuringia have already determined the responsible authority.
The Federal Agriculture Ministry stated on inquiry that it assumes that the states will fulfill their obligations and implement the law on time. In order to provide sufficient time, the reporting deadline is almost twelve months after the effective date. No further buffer is planned.
State logo with five levels
The law passed by the traffic light coalition in August 2023 provides that as of August 2025, a labeling for domestic products will be mandatory. It will start with pork meat in the supermarkets. A system with five categories is planned, if pigs come from rearing to fattening.
It starts with the housing system "Stall" with the statutory minimum requirements. The level "Stall+Space" provides 12.5% more space. "Fresh Air Stall" allows contact with outdoor climate. In addition, there are the levels "Auslauf/Pasture" and "Bio".
Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) has already presented how the logo will look. Namely, sober-modern: a white, rounded rectangle, in which "Animal Husbandry" stands in black frame. The housing system shows a smaller, black-filled rectangle - for five small rectangles for the five categories. A variant with a mint-green background is also possible, if it is more visible.
Farmers must now report the number of animals and which of the five housing systems they have in their barns - and to the authority that has been designated for their land. From there, they will then receive a permanent identification number, which applies to their meat in the further supply chain up to the supermarket. It should be issued within two months, according to the law.
How quickly this is implemented nationwide remains to be seen. The new logo can be used voluntarily before the obligation takes effect. The first labeled products could be seen in the supermarket as early as 2025, according to the ministry.
Furthermore, the labeling is supposed to be extended to catering establishments and canteens next. The traffic light factions held a specialist discussion with experts from agriculture and gastronomy for September. In October, they plan to submit a bill to the Bundestag.
Private label adapts itself
Movement is also noticeable in the placeholders in the refrigerated cases, the widely used voluntary labeling of supermarket chains with the imprint "Housing System". It started in 2019 and already applies to meat and processed products from cattle, pigs, and poultry.
On the labels, the numbers 1 to 4 stand for four levels of "Stall Rearing" to "Premium" until the beginning of the year. However, an alignment with the state logo was announced at the beginning of the year - and that is running in the summer. The process will take approximately one year, explained the carrier association.
In the future, the private logo for pigs will also have five levels. This is intended to be seen on more and more packaging over time. The names of the categories and the criteria for pigs will also be adapted to the state logo. Both labels should be able to coexist without contradiction and form a unified orientation system, explained the spokesperson. Özdemir welcomed the alignment, especially since the state is not yet far in implementing higher standards for meat of all animal species.
Will there still be long-term financing?
It is still uncertain whether there will be long-term financing for the conversion of animal husbandry, so that farmers do not have to bear the costs for higher standards alone. Özdemir presented a billion euros, which are reserved for pig farmers, undeterred by the budget disputes in the federal government. However, this does not suffice in the long term and for other animal species. Proposals for long-term financing were made by the Green politician once again, emphasizing their necessity for the conversion to succeed. The "Animal Welfare Initiative" of the industry, which pays price surcharges for additional requirements to participating farmers, had already announced that the continuation of their programs would be secured at least until the end of 2027.
- Despite the deadline approaching, it was unclear where animal farming operations in Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Thuringia should send their declarations regarding their housing systems.
- The Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food conducted a survey and found that Niedersachsen, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Thuringia have already identified the responsible authority.
- The Federal Agriculture Ministry believes that the states will fulfill their obligations and implement the law on time, providing a twelve-month buffer for reporting.
- The traffic-coalition passed a law in August 2023, which mandates labeling for domestic products starting in August 2025, with pork meat being the first item in supermarkets.
- Minister Cem Özdemir presented a simple, sober-modern design for the future state logo, which will include a white, rounded rectangle with "Animal Husbandry" in black and a smaller black-filled rectangle for the housing system categories.
- From August 2025, farmers must report the number of animals and their housing systems to the designated authority, which will issue a permanent identification number for their meat.
- The first labeled products could be seen in supermarkets as early as 2025, with the labeling also planned to extend to catering establishments and canteens.
- Private labeling systems, such as the "Housing System" used by supermarket chains, are aligning with the state logo, with the aim of forming a unified orientation system for consumers.
- There is uncertainty about long-term financing for the conversion of animal husbandry, which could make it challenging for farmers to bear the costs of higher standards without external support.
