Food: What will become of the state animal husbandry logo?

It should actually start in almost two months – the future state animal husbandry logo for pork in the supermarkets. But the new federal government wants to postpone the obligation to introduce the providers from August 1st. The coalition brings a bill to the Bundestag today in order to give more time for implementation. New start date: March 1, 2026.

If the labeling no longer comes this year, this is not good news, the consumer advice centers criticize. Because consumers wanted to know how animals were kept, said the food expert of the Federal Association, Jochen Geilenkirchen, the German Press Agency. “This does not only apply to pork.” The government should use the additional time to expand the labeling.

The logo, which was still decided by the traffic light coalition, is intended to bring supermarket customers more clarity about the conditions in the stables. According to the law, it is mandatory for domestic products, and it should first start for fresh pork. A system with five categories from the “Stall” level with the legal minimum requirements up to “Bio” is planned. The logo should look factual and sober: rectangular and in black and white.

The law has been in force since August 2023. And it actually provided for a changeover time of two years. When implementing, however, it hooked in the countries that asked for postponement. Federal Minister of Agriculture Alois Rainer is now taking up this with a shift by seven months. “A mandatory animal husbandry marking must work perfectly from the first day,” said the CSU politician. The countries – who have to implement and control everything – and the industry should get a little more time.

How it will go on is unclear. The black and red coalition basically wants to reform the labeling in order to “make it practical and align them to animal welfare”. Just what exactly does that mean? Former Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens), who brought the system into the Law Gazette after failed attempts in the first place after failed attempts of previous governments. A targeted expansion to other animal species and also on restaurants and canteens no longer came about.

Consumer advocate Geilenkirchen demanded that the expansion be implemented: “The labeling can only be a real decision -making aid if it is mandatory on all products – no matter which animal species is about and whether you buy in the supermarket, in the canteen or in the restaurant.” From the perspective of the German Animal Welfare Association, there is no need to extend the deadline for a market launch in the current form. The law should be stamped and completely redesigned, said President Thomas Schröder. There are no improvements to more animal welfare, but only depict the status quo.

The top dog in the refrigerated counter

The delay does not mean that customers have no information. In the supermarkets there has been a voluntary labeling of the retail chains in the supermarkets. The seal with the imprint “posture form” prepared to the state logo and now has five categories instead of four stages. It includes meat of pigs, cattle and poultry. Consumer advocate Geilenkirchen said: “But it is not enough with transparency, it also takes a corresponding offer. In order for meat to be available from animal welfare, animal husbandry must be converted.”