The most important details at a glance

With the introduction of the mandatory state animal husbandry label, an important milestone on the path towards future-proof animal husbandry in Germany has now been achieved. The new label will create transparency and clarity with regard to the way animals are kept and will make it easier for consumers to make informed purchasing decisions. At the same time, it will provide a way for farmers to ensure that their efforts to improve animal welfare are visible on the market.

The labelling requirement will apply initially to fresh pork from animals reared, slaughtered and processed in Germany. An extension to include processed products, in addition to the away-from-home catering / restaurant sector, is planned for 2024. This will then be followed by other animal types, products and retail channels. Labelling of equivalent foreign products destined for the German market can take place on a voluntary basis.

The legal basis is the Animal Husbandry Labelling Act, which regulates how the label is to be used and specifies the criteria for the individual types of husbandry systems in use.

Further benefits and facts

The mandatory state animal husbandry label

• differentiates between five types of husbandry system: indoor housing, indoor+space, indoor with fresh air, outdoor runs/free range, organic
• is compulsory for domestic products and as a result will create a transparent, reliable and binding framework for all market players in Germany
• requires livestock farms to provide information on the husbandry system used for their animals and requires meat processing companies to label their products accordingly
• indicates the current husbandry conditions in each case - new animal husbandry requirements will not affect the validity of the label
• provides transparency and enables consumers to make informed purchasing decisions quickly
• is monitored by the competent authorities of the German federal states

The steps leading to labelling for market players

Animal husbandry labelling is carried out in several steps. The amount of work for livestock farms is to be kept as low as possible. For this reason, information that has already been made available to the authorities will not have to be provided again. This also applies to records that already have to be kept as a result of other legal requirements. New animal husbandry requirements will not affect the validity of the label.

Domestic livestock farms

Applying for the label

Step 1:

The livestock farm notifies the competent federal state authority of the number of animals and the types of husbandry system in use in writing or electronically. This notification is to include evidence of the size of the housing, outdoor runs, etc. for the respective type of husbandry system. The notification is to include the following information:

• the name and address of the farm and farm owner
• the registration number of the farm in accordance with Section 26 (2) of the German Animal Movement Directive
• the husbandry facilities in use
• the number of animals to be kept in each husbandry facility
• the type of animal husbandry system in use

Step 2:

The federal state authority checks whether the requirements for the type of husbandry system used are met.

Step 3:

Within a period of two months after notification, the federal state authority will assign an identification number to each of the husbandry facilities included in the notification which will remain valid for an unlimited period provided the husbandry facility meets the requirements for the type of husbandry specified in the Animal Husbandry Labelling Act. The identification number is to indicate:

• the type of husbandry system in use
• the competent authority
• the livestock farm and the housing facility

Step 4:

The federal state authority enters the details of the farm's husbandry facilities in an electronic register.

Step 5:

Responsibility for implementing the provisions of this Act, in addition to ensuring that the provisions are complied with, lies with the federal states. They identify the competent authorities for these tasks, who will then be required to monitor the farms on a regular basis to ensure that the provisions of this Act are complied with.

These steps are derived from the Animal Husbandry Labelling Act, Sections 12 to 18.

Changing the label: as soon as there is a change to the husbandry system lasting a total of more than two weeks, the farm is to report this change to the authority. The authority may then issue a new identification number.

Creating documentation

Farm owners shall document the following information from the moment the animals are placed in the housing:

• the date on which the animals were placed in the housing
• the average weight of the animals in each housing group when they were placed in the housing
• the number of animals kept
• the type of housing used for each housing facility
• any changes in the husbandry system or in the number of animals kept
• the length of time the animals remained in the housing

Traceability

Meat processing companies will have to ensure that any information provided on the type of husbandry system used, in particular the identification numbers of the housing facilities, has been provided or transmitted to those involved in the subsequent stages of production and sales.

Labelling

The label indicating the type of husbandry system must be clearly visible and legible on the food products. In the case of non-prepacked food, businesses must inform consumers in the immediate vicinity of the food of the type of husbandry system in use, so that consumers can take note of the information before purchasing. In distance selling, such as online trade, for example, the labelling of the type of husbandry system in use must be available for download before the purchasing contract is concluded.

Foreign food products

Application procedure for domestic food processing companies

Meat products from other EU Member States and third countries destined for the German market can apply for and receive the animal husbandry label on a voluntary basis. The application is to be submitted by the company that sells the food product to final consumers in Germany. The federal states will inspect the products available on the market. 

Step 1:

The meat processing company submits the application (in German or English, in writing or electronically) to the competent authority. The application is to contain the following information:

• the name and address of the company
• the food products to be sold in the country
• the type of husbandry system in use for the animals from which the food products are derived
• the identification numbers of the farms

If no identification number is available, the following details must be provided:

• the EU registration number of the livestock farm
• the competent authority responsible for monitoring the animal welfare standards
• the location of the individual livestock farm
• the information on the husbandry facility (usable floor space, number of animals, type of husbandry system)
• evidence of the type of husbandry system in use

As soon as any changes to these details have occurred, the food processing company is required to report these changes to the competent authority.

Step 2:

The federal state authority determines whether the requirements for the type of husbandry system have been met and, if this is the case, approves it.

Notification procedure for foreign husbandry facilities (EU and third countries)

Step 1:

The foreign farm approaches the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (in writing or electronically, in German or English). The notification is to contain the following information:

• the name and address of the livestock farm and its owner
• the EU registration number of the livestock farm
• the competent authority responsible for monitoring the animal welfare standards
• the location of the individual livestock farm
• the information on the husbandry facility (usable floor space, number of animals, type of husbandry system)
• evidence of the type of husbandry system in use

As soon as any changes to this information have occurred, the foreign farm is required to notify the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food of these changes. Even if animal husbandry has been abandoned permanently, the farm must notify the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food of the situation.

Step 2:

The Federal Office determines whether the requirements for the type of husbandry system have been met.

Step 3:

If this is the case, the Federal Office assigns an identification number that is valid for two years. This is to indicate:

• the type of husbandry system in use
• the identification number for the farm and the husbandry facility
• the validity of the identification number

Step 4:

The Federal Office enters the details of the foreign farm's husbandry facilities in an electronic register which It uses to monitor the farm’s compliance with the regulations.

These steps are derived from the Animal Husbandry Labelling Act, Sections 25 to 32.

Record-keeping obligations for foreign farms:

• the date on which the animals were placed in the housing
• the average weight of the animals in each housing group when they were placed in the housing
• the number of animals kept
• the type of housing used for each housing facility
• any changes in the husbandry system or in the number of animals kept

the length of time the animals remained in the housing

Domestic food processing companies that supply labelled foreign food products to the final consumer in Germany,

are required (within the scope of the possibilities available to them) to ensure that...

• the link between the food product and information on the farming method is assured along the entire food chain,
• the information provided with the animal or food product is complete and accurate,
• the type of husbandry system indicated on the label correlates with the information on the husbandry system in use for the animals,
• the owners of the husbandry facilities keep records (cf. above).

 

The introduction of animal husbandry labelling

The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture is gradually introducing mandatory animal husbandry labelling and will be extending it to include other animal types, products and retail channels in the years to come.

 

Released 11. Jul 2023 as article