Retailers, suppliers and foodservice sector operators have been urged to improve country-of-origin labelling on dairy products such as cheese and butter following an emergency meeting between ministers and farming leaders yesterday.
However, Defra has said it is unlikely there will be any mandatory labelling requirements on dairy products in the near future, with any new guidance set to be introduced in “partnership” with industry.
Speaking after yesterday’s meeting in London - staged in response to a prolonged period of turmoil in the sector due to low farmgate and retail prices - Defra secretary of state Liz Truss said she wanted to see “better branding and clearer labelling of dairy products in supermarkets, retailers and throughout the catering industry so that people know when they are buying British”, particularly on products such as cheese and butter”.
Truss said there would be further discussions between Defra and the food sector on how to implement better labelling, and also pledged to continue pressing her European counterparts for the introduction of mandatory country-of-origin labelling for dairy products at a meeting of ministers on 7 September. Developing better tools to tackle market volatility, for example through a dairy futures market and insurance, would also be on her agenda, she added.
However, it is unlikely food companies will be compelled to improve labelling in the short term, with a Defra spokesman telling The Grocer any new initiatives would be introduced “in partnership” with the sector.
Truss described the meeting on Monday as “encouraging”, and added it could help “build stronger foundations that give the industry the long-term stability and commercial opportunities it needs to manage global volatility”.
Defra would now set up a working group alongside the AHDB and farming ministers from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in order to “develop best practice models with the industry”, Truss said.
A statement by the presidents of the NFU, NFU Scotland, NFU Cymru and Ulster Farmers Union also called for clearer country-of-origin labelling, in addition to clarity on sourcing policies, and better, more consistent promotion of British food.
“We cannot allow the meltdown in the farming industry to continue,” they said, adding: “Our farming members now expect to see these words followed up with visible, tangible actions. The ministers should be in no doubt that the time for talking is now over.”
Dairy UK CEO Judith Bryans said the meeting had been “constructive”, and called for “greater transparency in labelling and improved branding” to allow consumers to choose British products as easily as possible”.
She also renewed Dairy UK’s call for the European Commission to raise its intervention price at the European ministers’ meeting next month “as we believe this is an urgently needed measure to ease the pressure on the sector”.
“Country of Origin Labelling would benefit the UK dairy industry, a position we share with Defra, the Dairy APPG and many other dairy stakeholders,” added Bryans.
Bryans continued: “There is obvious consumer demand for clearer information on the country of origin of food as illustrated by the existing rules for fresh meat within the Food Information to Consumers Regulation. An improved labelling system would help the UK dairy industry showcase its products and reassure consumers on their provenance. Country of Origin labelling should be a strong recognition of the British dairy industry’s hard work to deliver nutritious and wholesome products to consumers.
“Back in 2010, Dairy UK worked with Defra and the BRC to develop guidance on Country of Origin Labelling to be implemented on a voluntary basis throughout the industry. Now is our opportunity to review this document and work in collaboration with Defra and industry stakeholders to ensure we can have the most efficient system in place.”
However, EU agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan reiterated last week that a higher dairy intervention price to support dairy farmers was “not in the interest of producers.”
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