Extension of deadline for animal husbandry labeling implementation - Extension of deadline for the enactment of livestock farming labeling regulations
In a ongoing debate, the animal welfare labeling law for livestock products in Germany remains unchanged, with no specific plans for modifications announced. The law, which came into effect in 2023, aims to improve conditions in animal husbandry by regulating the labeling of fresh, unprocessed pork from Germany.
The law categorises pig farming into five categories, ranging from conventional fattening systems to organic farming. Despite criticisms of "serious flaws and gaps" in the current system, Miriam Staudte, Lower Saxony's Minister of Agriculture (Greens), supports maintaining the law, expressing a willingness to make corrections, particularly regarding the labeling of foreign goods.
Tina Andres, the chairwoman of the Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft (BOELW), has voiced her concerns about the resistance towards the animal welfare labeling law, viewing it as an "attack on animal welfare". She warns that it will become increasingly difficult for farmers who voluntarily keep their animals in a species-appropriate manner if politics does not drive the entire sector forward in the interest of animal welfare and consumer protection.
The farmers' association and the retail trade support the animal welfare labeling law, viewing it as a decision-making aid and a source of transparency for consumers. However, Silvia Breher (CDU), the Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, supports sticking to the planned labeling, while Baden-Württemberg's Minister of Food and Rural Affairs, Peter Hauk (CDU), has advocated for the repeal of the law due to the disproportionately large bureaucratic burden it places on affected businesses.
The debate did not result in a majority for demands to repeal the law entirely. Regarding the stance of the CDU party and the Bundesrat on changes to animal husbandry labeling in Germany, there is no information retrieved from the search results that addresses their position or any debate on this topic.
As the discussion continues, it is essential to monitor official German government releases and statements from the CDU and Bundesrat for the most accurate and up-to-date information on this issue. Meanwhile, Switzerland has introduced new labeling rules effective July 1, 2025, requiring meat, eggs, and milk to be labeled if animals underwent painful procedures without anesthesia, including castration and dehorning for beef and pork, beak clipping for chickens, and force-feeding for foie gras. However, these are Swiss regulations and do not reflect German plans.
[1] Swissinfo.ch, "Swiss animal welfare labeling law: what it means for consumers", 2021. [2] Bundesverband Naturkost & Bio e.V., "Bio-Siegel: Transparenz und Qualitätssicherung für organische Lebensmittel", n.d. [3] European Commission, "Proposals for animal welfare and traceability rules", 2021. [4] Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, "Tierwohlgesetze in Deutschland", n.d.
EC countries could consider adopting the Swiss model of animal welfare labeling, which includes clear labeling of products derived from animals that underwent painful procedures without anesthesia. To support health-and-wellness and promote vocational training for future generations of farmers, vocational training programs focused on modern and sustainable farming practices could be developed and implemented across EC countries.
