Lobbying Intensifies to Establish 100% Grass-Fed Label Definition for PfL Products
In the UK, the term 'grass-fed' is commonly used in shops and restaurants, but its definition is not strictly codified. According to the current regulations, the label indicates that cattle are primarily raised on pasture and consume a majority of their diet from grass, but may receive supplementary feed. This flexible approach to grass-based diets in livestock farming is reflected in the UK's official Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) guidelines and governmental documents[1].
However, the Pasture-Fed Livestock Association (PfL) has been advocating for a more robust definition of grass-fed, meaning 100% grass-fed, backed by Defra and the Food Standards Agency (FSA). PfL farmers are involved in discussions about developing the proposed Environmental and Land Management Scheme (ELMS), and the Minister has expressed interest in including certified PfL farmers in a pilot project for ELMS[2].
The Minister has also shown support for the achievements of PfL farmers and has been in talks with PfL regarding the adoption of a 'grass-fed means 100% grass-fed' stance[3]. However, as of the publication date (December 10, 2018), there is no publicly available evidence from the latest official documents or guidelines indicating a move to mandate a strict 100% grass-fed standard in the UK[1].
PfL has been lobbying lawmakers and lobby groups to address the issue of misleading grass-fed labeling, and the honest labeling campaign, involving Compassion in World Farming, placed 100% pasture-fed farming at the top of its labeling matrix, above organic and free range[4]. In a consumer survey conducted in 2017, 93% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the current labeling laws for grass-fed meat could be misleading[5].
PfL welcomes the direction of the new UK Agriculture policy and is developing ideas for proposing ways to shape the future of ELMS in the second round of submissions in early 2019[2]. The number of farmers delivering public goods in Defra's 25-year environmental plan could increase with this stance, potentially boosting the market for certified PfL meat and dairy[6].
In conclusion, while the UK maintains a more flexible definition of grass-fed, PfL's efforts to advocate for a stricter standard could lead to changes in the future. For more detailed updates or industry consultation results, monitoring Defra and FSA websites or the UK government consultation portals would be advisable.
[1] [Source 1] [2] [Source 2] [3] [Source 3] [4] [Source 4] [5] [Source 5] [6] [Source 6]
- The Pasture-Fed Livestock Association (PfL) pushes for a stricter definition of 'grass-fed', aiming for 100% grass-fed, which is yet to be officially mandated in the UK.
- PfL farmers are involved in discussions about the Environmental and Land Management Scheme (ELMS), hoping to influence a shift towards a 100% grass-fed standard in UK farming.
- The Minister has expressed interest in including certified PfL farmers in a potential pilot project for ELMS, showing support for the 'grass-fed means 100% grass-fed' stance.
- Consumer surveys indicate that the current grass-fed labeling laws may be misleading, leading PfL to lobby for honest labeling and advocating for the top-tier '100% pasture-fed' label.
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