News story

5th February 2001

Beef Labeling

Northavon MP Steve Webb has used a Parliamentary Question to raise the concerns of local farmers over misleading labeling of beef on sale in supermarkets. The MP took action after being contacted by farmers who were concerned that meat which is slaughtered abroad but then processed or packaged in the UK is still being labeled as “British”, despite regulations designed to prevent this happening. Local farmers have been told that trading standards officers are currently reluctant to enforce the rules on labeling until new guidelines have been issued and that this may take several months. In the meantime, there are suspicions that supermarkets are taking advantage of the glut of beef in the European market, caused partly by the fall in demand in Europe because of concerns over BSE, and are dragging their heels over improved labeling which would tell consumers where their beef came from. Now Lib Dem MP Steve Webb has tabled a question to agriculture ministers asking if they will step up the enforcement of the labeling laws, with particular emphasis on encouraging local trading standards officers to use their powers.

Steve Webb said:

“Consumers have a right to know where the beef that they are buying has been slaughtered. If the label says that meat is British, shoppers have a right to expect that it was not only processed in the UK, but was also slaughtered according to the UK’s high standards. This would be good for British farmers and good for consumers, and I hope that the Government will see that labeling rules are rigorously enforced”.


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Note to editors: A written answer to Steve Webb’s question is due towards the end of this week or early next week.