Food labelling scheme for animals

Ethical foods have seen a notable rise in popularity

Plans for a national labelling system for food, which would include details of the conditions that animals are kept in, have been announced.

The Animal Welfare Delivery Strategy aims to raise animal care standards and increase awareness of the issues.

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is spearheading the new strategy.

But animal rights group, Animal Aid, wants current welfare laws re-enforced. It said the move was a "PR exercise".

The proposals come as Defra investigates the alleged mislabelling of non-free range eggs.

This strategy suggests ways we can take responsibility and work together to achieve good animal welfare Ben Bradshaw, minister for animal health and welfare

Ben Bradshaw, minister for animal health and welfare, said: "Everyone who keeps or works with animals can help improve their care.

"While it's our job in government to set minimum standards by law, the public and our key partners also have a vital role to play.

"This strategy suggests ways we can take responsibility for different aspects of this issue and work together to achieve good animal welfare - it's a subject that affects us all and we want to hear what others think of our vision."

The key goals include improving the quality and range of training and education for animal keepers and providing more comprehensive information to consumers on the welfare history of animal products - thereby allowing them to make informed choices about what to buy, a Defra spokesman said.

The plans also include working towards internationally-agreed standards for animal welfare.

'Outright abuse'

An Animal Aid spokesman said it had supplied Defra with evidence of severe neglect - including an absence of water and untreated, infected injuries and abuse such as beatings.

It said that despite such evidence, "prosecutions are woefully rare".

A 12-week consultation period on the food labelling scheme is getting under way.

Defra's current inquiry into the alleged mislabelling of non-free range eggs relates to about one per cent of the 3bn free range eggs produced each year in the UK - around 30m eggs, a spokesman added.