Fresh and minced pigmeat as well as meat preparations and meat products containing pigmeat

The order slightly extends the previously notified animal welfare labelling scheme for pigmeat so that it now also covers meat products containing pigmeat.

The purpose of the animal welfare labelling scheme, which is voluntary for primary producers such as slaughterhouses and other food business operators, is to promote animal welfare by improving transparency within the market, thereby offering consumers better information and several options vis-à-vis animal welfare standards for the products.

The scheme is extended by adding meat products containing pigmeat to the range of products in § 1(1), § 9(1)-(3), § 11(1) and § 16(4) of the order. A new paragraph 3 is inserted in § 13, stipulating that pigmeat bearing the animal welfare label shall account for at least 75 % of the meat product’s total content that is of animal origin, and that other ingredients of animal origin shall meet organic requirements. However, non-organic casings, gelatine and collagen of other origin as well as non-organic fish may be used.