Four Paws Parliamentary Reception on Animal Welfare Labelling

Thank you to everyone who contacted me about animal welfare labelling. I recognise that there is a strong public interest in clearer animal welfare information on the food people buy, so that people can make purchasing decisions that align with their values.

I also understand the lack of transparency around animal welfare standards on labels makes it harder for farmers to differentiate their goods and to be fairly rewarded for their higher welfare products.

That is why I am glad that in the new Animal Welfare Strategy, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has committed to work with stakeholders to explore how improved animal welfare food labelling could support farmers to promote better animal welfare and to provide greater transparency for consumers. Our Government will set out next steps on food labelling as part of this strategy in due course.

As you may be aware, last year our Government held a consultation on fairer food labelling. I understand the consultation – which showed a clear majority of the public and stakeholders would support clearer food information on welfare standards – will help inform Defra’s work on food labelling.

More broadly, it may interest you to know that in the Animal Welfare Strategy, our Government has committed to build on its strong record of improving animal welfare. I am proud to support this strategy, which sets out how Defra will improve welfare for farmed animals, including by moving away from confinement systems for laying hens and pigs.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this issue. Please rest assured I, and the Government are committed to ensuring consumers have access to clear information on how their food was produced.