Conclusions on an EU-wide animal welfare label

Summary:

Set of conclusions adopted by the Council of the European Union in December 2020, concerning the establishment of an EU-wide animal welfare label.

Further information:

The Council invites the European Commission to submit a legislative initiative on an EU-wide animal welfare label for food produced under animal welfare standards higher than those in EU legislation. The conclusions highlight the overarching objective of improving animal welfare for as many food producing animals as possible.

These conclusions support consumer demands to easily recognise food produced under stronger animal welfare standards and, through the conclusions, called for specific criteria to be taken into account when developing an EU-wide label. Among others, ministers stressed the need to go beyond current EU legal requirements on animal welfare, to gradually include all livestock species in the label covering their entire lifetime (also transport and slaughter), and to ensure a smooth interplay with existing labels.

A political agreement on these conclusions was reached by the Council of the European Union at a meeting in December 2020.

Official

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 15/12/2020: Council supports EU-wide animal welfare label https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/12/15/council-supports-eu-wide-animal-welfare-label/

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