Farmers demand mandatory labeling of origin in pubs

“Consumers must be able to clearly and easily see where meat, milk, eggs and other sensitive products come from, even when they are not at home,” it said in a press release. It’s about transparency and honesty, says the Farmers’ Association director Corinna Weisl.

Wiener Schnitzel with meat from the Netherlands

“It cannot be the case that guests order a Wiener Schnitzel and end up with veal from abroad, for example from the Netherlands,” Weisl continues. She refers to a recently published study by research network The Marker from Dornbirn. This revealed that veal for the Austrian classic often comes from the Netherlands, where animals are kept under problematic conditions.

Europe’s agriculture is currently under massive pressure due to rising costs, high requirements and falling producer prices. Also that one EU-Mercosur-Dealsigned on Saturday, would further intensify competition.

Free trade agreements would lead to “products from third countries with lower production standards pushing into the European market”. Weisl: “Especially when different standards collide, clear rules of the game and full transparency are needed.”

Gastronomy representatives resist the obligation

There is headwind from representatives of the gastronomy: A mandatory labeling of origin is for example Alois Rainertrade association chairman at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ), rejected for several reasons. It would mean an “enormous bureaucratic burden for the industry, which is characterized by small and medium-sized businesses,” Rainer tells the KURIER.

The trade association chairman warns about “extensive recording and documentation obligations and frequent changes to the Menu. The companies are already “burdened with bureaucratic work” for an average of ten hours per week.

That too EU law would stand in the way of mandatory origin labeling, as this could only be required if “there is demonstrably a connection between certain qualities of the food and its origin or provenance,” says Rainer. The Gastronomy Association is fundamentally open to new, voluntary models of origin labeling.

Also at the winter meeting of the Ecosocial Forum This year it’s about transparency. A hundred experts will speak about the value of food at the largest agricultural policy discussion event.