Country of origin labelling

Dr Judith Bryans, chief executive of Dairy UK has commented on the European Commission report on Country of Origin Labelling published recently:

“We are disappointed to see that the Commission report found that voluntary Country of Origin Labelling may be a more suitable option for dairy products than a mandatory system.

“There is obvious consumer demand for clearer information on the country of origin of food products as illustrated by the existing rules for fresh meat within the Food Information to Consumers Regulation. Therefore, it makes sense to take the next step and introduce these requirements for milk and milk used as an ingredient in dairy products.

“A mandatory labelling system would help the UK dairy industry showcase its products and reassure consumers on their provenance. Our milk, our cheeses, our yogurts and all our great British dairy products are a staple of the UK diet and we should be proud of what we produce.

“Country of Origin Labelling should be more than just an option but a strong recognition of the British dairy industry’s hard work to deliver nutritious and wholesome products to consumers.”

Dairy UK has called for mandatory Country of Origin Labelling for many years, with the support of Defra and the Dairy All-Party Parliamentary Group.