At the annual meeting of the German Animal Feed Association (DVT), the German Farmers’ Association (DBV) and the German Pig Producers’ Association (ISN) called for a fundamental revision of the Animal Husbandry Labeling Act (THKG) and a postponement of the implementation of the currently valid law. Both organizations criticize the procedures at the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMELH).
DBV Secretary General Stefanie Sabet and ISN Managing Director Dr. Torsten Staack agreed in their assessment of the law. Sabet stated that the start of mandatory labeling must be postponed again and the law fundamentally revised. Staack concurred, emphasizing that the version of the law that came into effect in 2023 must not be made mandatory under any circumstances.
Both Sabet and Staack took the opportunity to criticize the procedures at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMLEH). Sabet, clearly referring to the BMLEH, criticized the German Farmers’ Association (DBV) for not currently taking its demands regarding the Federal Law on Animal Welfare (THKG) seriously enough. Staack also expressed his incomprehension. He reminded attendees at the DVT annual conference that a broad alliance of all relevant organizations had developed proposals for implementing the necessary changes to the THKG. However, these proposals had not been adopted by the BMLEH.
Staack said it was therefore no surprise that the draft amendment submitted for notification in Brussels had been criticized by the EU Commission. Referring to the ministry’s work, he added that the BMLEH (Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection) needed to rethink its internal workflow and consider whether it could continue in this way . He continued: While Minister Alois Rainer is known as a very open and attentive Federal Minister of Agriculture who listens to concerns, it is surprising that the objections and suggestions – not for the first time – then simply vanish into thin air within the BMLEH.
