MEPs have approved the resolution that processed meats will have to include a label stating where the animal was raised and slaughtered, in a bid to help rebuild consumer confidence in the wake of the 2013 horsemeat scandal.
Welcoming the move, Scottish MEP Alyn Smith said: "This is essentially the processors being encouraged to simplify their supply chain and ensure the raw materials they receive are authentic and traceable. Put simply, that is what they should have been doing all along.
"We already label fresh beef, and from April this will apply to fresh meat from pigs, sheep, poultry and goats. So why not ravioli and lasagne?
"This will help to ensure stability between farmers and processors, and means consumers can easily choose to buy local produce instead of meat that's been transported hundreds of miles."
Pauline Constant of the European Consumers Organisation (BEUC) added: "Being transparent by saying where the meat comes from can benefit not only consumers but also the food industry. One should keep in mind the cost of lost consumer confidence. The sales of frozen ready meals dropped in the aftermath of the horsemeat scandal, costing industry a lot of money. A more transparent meat supply chain might be the price to pay to restore consumer trust.
"Our French member UFC-Que Choisir found out that labelling beef's origin on a pack of frozen lasagne would only cost €0.015 more (1.5 per cent). This is far from representing a huge burden."
That point of view is contrary to that held by Competitiveness Commissioner Jyrki Katainen who reiterated the findings of a Commission report in December 2013 that origin labelling of processed foods will raise costs for food firms and regulators by 15-20 per cent.
Market round-up
United Auctions sold 306 store heifers at Stirling on Wednesday to a top of 304.5p per kg and an average of 237.8p (+11.9p on the week), while 428 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 332.5p and levelled at 250.1p (+16.5p). Fifty-two store, B&W bullocks sold to 189.5p and averaged 173.9p (+5.5p), while 49 store bulls peaked at 268.2p and levelled at 230.5p.
In the rough ring 133 cows averaged 123.8p.
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 1284 prime hoggs in Newton Stewart on Wednesday to a top of £93 per head and 212.8p per kg to average 186.2p (-2.1p). Included in that overall average were 569 prime Blackface hoggs that sold to £85.80 and 200p to average 186.7p.
The firm also had 341 cast sheep forward that sold to £143 for Texel rams, while ewes peaked at £114, also for Texels, £93 for Mules and £76 for Blackfaces.
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