Retailers are being called upon to sign a new honesty pledge for selling pork.
A new set of guidelines to tackle misleading labelling of imported pork products has been launched by the National Pig Association.
Stewart Houston, chairman of the NPA, said: “Seventy per cent of pork products imported into the UK do not conform with UK minimum welfare standards and consumers are concerned.”
He said the NPA had been discussing the issue with retailers and foodservice operators to develop the best practice guidelines.
Retailers signing up will pledge that all their pork, bacon, ham and sausages meet the legal standards for pig
production in Britain. They will agree the meat is transparently and independently audited to verify this and will be clearly labelled with country of origin on the front of all packaging.
If they failed to do this, that would clearly indicate products not complying, said Houston.
He said Tesco had already indicated its support for the initiative and he hoped Marks and Spencer and Waitrose would soon follow. “We’re not looking to obstruct or stop imports of pork, we’re simply asking does it support UK standards, and if not, why not. It’s policy we’re looking for, not PR.”
He said within the retailers there was a lack of clarity when it came to sourcing policy, with many retailers using tertiary brands to get round any policy restrictions on using imports.
Houston said he hoped the NPA would quickly sign up a number of retailers and reach a point where those who hadn’t signed up would be sidelined.
The NPA guidelines would help focus public attention on the more ethical stance of companies that took product sourcing and differentiation seriously, he added, and give the NPA more time to concentrate on those who do not.
Ed Bedington
A new set of guidelines to tackle misleading labelling of imported pork products has been launched by the National Pig Association.
Stewart Houston, chairman of the NPA, said: “Seventy per cent of pork products imported into the UK do not conform with UK minimum welfare standards and consumers are concerned.”
He said the NPA had been discussing the issue with retailers and foodservice operators to develop the best practice guidelines.
Retailers signing up will pledge that all their pork, bacon, ham and sausages meet the legal standards for pig
production in Britain. They will agree the meat is transparently and independently audited to verify this and will be clearly labelled with country of origin on the front of all packaging.
If they failed to do this, that would clearly indicate products not complying, said Houston.
He said Tesco had already indicated its support for the initiative and he hoped Marks and Spencer and Waitrose would soon follow. “We’re not looking to obstruct or stop imports of pork, we’re simply asking does it support UK standards, and if not, why not. It’s policy we’re looking for, not PR.”
He said within the retailers there was a lack of clarity when it came to sourcing policy, with many retailers using tertiary brands to get round any policy restrictions on using imports.
Houston said he hoped the NPA would quickly sign up a number of retailers and reach a point where those who hadn’t signed up would be sidelined.
The NPA guidelines would help focus public attention on the more ethical stance of companies that took product sourcing and differentiation seriously, he added, and give the NPA more time to concentrate on those who do not.
Ed Bedington
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