RSPCA expresses concern over MEPs’ objections to country of origin food labelling proposal
This week (February 6) MEPs backed a motion rejecting new rules on country of origin labelling (COOL) for meat and called on the European Commission to come forward with a new proposal giving more comprehensive information to consumers.
The RSPCA has expressed disappointment with this decision, as the Country of Origin labelling rules proposed by the European Commission were not perfect but were a good compromise.
"The RSPCA is disappointed in the way that MEPs voted today,” said Joe Moran, RSPCA senior parliamentary adviser.
"The Country of Origin labelling rules proposed by the European Commission would have enabled organisations like the RSPCA to inform consumers how they can choose meat that has been born, reared and slaughtered within the UK.
"We know that some European countries, the UK included, have pushed for looser rules and we can only hope that, when the rules are now reopened for debate, we do not end up with something that is weaker than these rules which have just been rejected by MEPs," he added.
The rules that MEPs rejected would have meant that meat from animals which were born, reared and slaughtered within the same EU country would have been labelled with the words 'Origin: (Name of country)'.
The RSPCA added that as well as Country of Origin labelling providing vital information on the welfare of the animal, recent scandals, such as the discovery of horsemeat in food products, show stricter rules for traceability and consumer information are very much-needed to help restore public confidence.
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Notes to editors:
The result of the vote today was 368 in favour, 207 against and 20 abstained.
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