Overview

This bill amends the Food Labelling Regulations 1996 to require clearer labelling of the country of origin for meat products and other foods where misleading the consumer about origin could be material.

Description

The bill mandates changes to food labelling regulations, focusing on country of origin information for meat and other food products. Key changes include:

• Meat Product Definition: Extends the definition of "meat product" to encompass a wider range of meat-containing foods, including mechanically recovered meat and specific animal parts.
• Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling for Meat: Requires labelling specifying the country where the animal was born for meat components of meat products (at least 10% by weight). If the animal was reared or slaughtered in different countries, those countries must also be specified.
• "British" Labelling Restrictions: Defines what constitutes "British" meat, requiring the animal to be born, reared, and slaughtered in the UK to use this label or any equivalent implying UK origin.
• Other Food Labelling: Extends the requirement for country of origin labelling to other food products where omitting this information could materially mislead the purchaser regarding the food's true origin.
• Overriding Trade Descriptions Act 1968: The bill clarifies that the provisions regarding country of origin labelling override certain sections of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending figures. The cost will likely involve enforcing the new regulations, potentially requiring additional resources for inspections and potentially disputes resolution.

Groups Affected

• Food Producers: Will need to adjust their labelling practices to comply with the new requirements, potentially incurring costs in re-labelling and supply chain adjustments. Producers of "British" labelled products will need to adhere to stricter criteria.
• Consumers: Will benefit from clearer and more accurate information about the origin of the food they purchase, allowing for more informed choices.
• Retailers: Will need to ensure their suppliers comply with the new regulations, and may need to adapt their stock management and labelling systems.
• Enforcement Agencies: Will be responsible for overseeing compliance with the new regulations and may require increased resources.

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