Ministers Drop Meat-Labelling Proposals Following Industry Lobbying

Proposals to make food manufacturers show where the meat in food products comes from have been dropp…

Proposals to make food manufacturers show where the meat in food products comes from have been dropped by Government ministers.

The turnaround came following a lobbying drive by the food industry, according to reports in the British media.

The news comes as a surprise considering the Coalition’s promise to improve transparency following the horsemeat scandal.

Now food manufacturers will not have to state where the meat in convenience and processed dishes comes from.

Farming Minister George Eustice is alleged to have lobbied against new regulations regarding processed meat in Europe.

His department took part in talks with food manufacturers, according to the Daily Mail newspaper, with meetings having taken place last year between food industry parties and senior British civil servants.

The publication said the meetings took place ahead of new regulations being discussed in Brussels.

New regulations on clear labelling for fresh meat will be introduced early next year.

An initial proposal set out that all processed food with meat ingredients should be labelled with the country of origin.

The requirement was removed from the regulations after meat industry groups took part in the lobbying drive to influence the ministers.