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Members encouraged to contact MPs about grass-fed labeling during the progression of the Trade Bill, according to PFLA's (the Professional Association for Farmed Game) call to action

Campaign Initiated by PFLA for Compulsory 'Grass-Fed' Labeling in Meat and Dairy Products for Transparent Consumer Choices Enhancing Health, Nutrition, and Sustainable Agriculture.

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Members of PFLA encouraged to compose letters to MPs regarding grass-fed labeling as the Trade Bill...
Members of PFLA encouraged to compose letters to MPs regarding grass-fed labeling as the Trade Bill progresses through Parliament

Members encouraged to contact MPs about grass-fed labeling during the progression of the Trade Bill, according to PFLA's (the Professional Association for Farmed Game) call to action

Grass-Fed Labeling: PFLA Urges UK Government for Mandatory Regulations

The Pasture-Fed Livestock Association (PFLA) has launched a campaign to urge the UK Government to introduce mandatory regulations for the use of the 'grass-fed' label on beef, lamb, and dairy products.

The PFLA's objectives align with the goals of both the Agriculture Bill and the Trade Bill, aiming for higher animal welfare, environmental, and human health outcomes. However, it's important to note that there is currently no specific legislation in the UK that mandates 'grass-fed' labeling definitions or requirements, linked to the Agriculture Bill or Trade Bill.

The Agriculture Bill promotes sustainable farming but does not legislate 'grass-fed' labeling. The Trade Bill, on the other hand, focuses on trade aspects, including equivalence of seed certification and phytosanitary controls, but not on consumer food labeling terminology like "grass-fed."

The PFLA believes that meat and dairy products from grass-fed animals have a higher nutrient content compared to those from grain-finished animals. They argue that the scientific research into the nutritional difference of grass-fed meat over grain-fed meat would meet the 'objective difference' requirement of the World Health Organization.

The PFLA's campaign is part of a broader effort for clear and consistent labelling across the entire sector. They aim to enable consumers to make informed choices between products. To this end, they have sent out a letter template to their 600 members asking them to write to their MPs supporting mandatory labelling for grass-fed beef, lamb, and dairy.

The PFLA will also write to Peers as the Agriculture Bill starts its passage through the House of Lords. This action coincides with the Second Reading of the Trade Bill through the House of Commons in the week of 8 June.

The PFLA is collaborating with several NGOs on broader labelling issues. They have published a Position Paper called 'World Trade Organisation Rules and Livestock Labelling.' This paper outlines their stance on the importance of clear and consistent labelling in the livestock sector.

The letter template includes a briefing paper that provides detailed information on the benefits of grass-fed livestock farming and the need for mandatory labelling. The PFLA welcomes the Government's intention to introduce regulations around labelling of specific terms and methods of production.

In the United States, a system of clear and consistent labelling for grass-fed products is already in use. The PFLA sees this commitment as fundamental to achieving higher animal welfare, environmental, and human health outcomes from the Agriculture Bill.

This campaign underscores the PFLA's commitment to promoting sustainable and transparent farming practices, ensuring consumers have the information they need to make informed choices about the food they eat.

  1. The Pasture-Fed Livestock Association (PFLA) has called for mandatory regulations on 'grass-fed' labeling to improve animal welfare, environmental conditions, and human health, aligning with the objectives of the UK's Agriculture and Trade Bills.
  2. The PFLA argues that scientific research demonstrates the higher nutritional value of grass-fed meat compared to grain-fed meat, which they believe meets the 'objective difference' requirement set by the World Health Organization.
  3. The PFLA is urging consumers to write to their MPs in support of mandatory 'grass-fed' labeling for beef, lamb, and dairy products, as part of a broader effort for clear and consistent food labeling across the sector.
  4. The PFLA's campaign for clear and consistent labeling is supported by several NGOs, with a published Position Paper calling for such changes in the livestock sector in line with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.
  5. The PFLA recognizes the value of clear and consistent labeling systems, as seen in the United States, and believes such a commitment is essential for the sustainable and transparent farming practices that enable informed health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and lifestyle decisions based on food-and-drink choices.

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