Rt Hon Michael Gove MP

Secretary of State for DEFRA

19^th of March

Dear Michael,

I am writing to you about the labelling of meat, milk and dairy products.

Around 70 billion animals around the world are farmed each year for food, with the conditions in which they are kept and their treatment varying greatly. In common with animal welfare and consumer groups, I support mandatory method of production labelling on all meat and dairy products. Clear labelling to indicate both high animal welfare and intensive production methods is essential if consumers are able to make an informed choice about the food they buy – and many prefer to spend a little more on higher welfare food rather than on products from an intensive system.

Since 2004 when the EU mandatory method of production for eggs was first introduced, UK production of cage-free eggs has increased from 31% in 2003 to over 50% at present. Hen’s eggs are labelled, by law, so that the consumers can easily distinguish between those which are “free range” and “eggs from caged hens”. Such labelling has made a huge difference to the consumer’s ability to make an informed choice. 

Better labelling is supported by the industry too. A letter signed by the National Farmers Union (NFU), NFU Scotland, NFU Cymru and the National Pig Association states that better labelling “would give shoppers more choice and confidence when buying British food and increase transparency in the supply chain."

Clear labelling benefits farm animals, the farmers who invest in better conditions for their livestock, the environment and human health.

On 10^th March, The Times ran a double page spread which revealed how meat and milk are often labelled misleadingly and suggesting that the images typically used on these products convey the impression that animals are farmed outdoors when in reality they are kept indoors. In many instances, the 2008 Consumer Protection From Unfair Trading Regulations are being breached. The article states that “Consumers deserve better information. We need to be clearer in our labelling about where food comes from and how food is produced. Better information can help us make the right choices for health and the environment.”

I welcome the comments you have made about your commitment to improve labelling rules so that consumers are not misled. Please will you therefore confirm that your Government will not in any way weaken current EU labelling standards? Will you also please set out how you will ensure that the labelling of milk and meat does not mislead consumers about how animals have been kept? And finally, will you confirm when you will be bringing forward legislation to introduce mandatory method of production labelling for meat, milk and dairy products?

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,