MEPs Reiterate Call for Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Meat and Milk

23 Mar 2016 –- Food safety MEPs have reiterated their support for introducing mandatory country of origin labeling of meat and milk, in a non-binding resolution voted on Tuesday 22nd March. Mandatory labeling would help maintain consumer confidence in food products by making the food supply chain more transparent, they say.

The motion for a resolution restates Parliament's position in favor of mandatory labeling of the country of origin or place of provenance of meat in processed foods. MEPs add that this labeling should also be made mandatory for meat other than that of bovine, porcine, ovine and caprine species and poultry meat, for milk and milk used as an ingredient in dairy products, for unprocessed foods, single-ingredient products and for ingredients that make up more than 50% of a food.

• 84% of EU citizens consider it necessary to indicate the origin of milk,
• 88% consider such labeling necessary for meat (other than beef, swine, sheep, goat and poultry meat, which are already covered)
• More than 90% consider such labeling important for processed foods.