EU states divided over meat labelling

Member states disagreed this week on findings in an EU report on meat origin labelling, prepared by the European Commission as a follow-up to last year’s horse meat scandal.

The report examined the possibility of extending mandatory origin labelling for all meat used as an ingredient. It considered the need for consumers to be informed, the feasibility of mandatory origin labelling, and included a cost-benefit analysis.

While many of the 28 member state delegations were in favour of introducing mandatory labelling, they were divided among those preferring indication of the specific EU member state or the specific non-EU country, and those preferring the indication to be EU or non-EU. And some member states supported origin labelling on a voluntary basis.