Flemish Animal Welfare Minister Ben Weyts has announced the introduction of a new animal welfare label, “Better for Animals” (Beter voor dieren), which will be seen on pork products starting this year. The label will also be extended to the poultry and beef sectors in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
This initiative comes as a response to Minister Weyts’ request for the development of a system to enhance and monitor animal welfare in the food chain in Flanders. The non-profit organization Association for the Promotion of Farm Animal Welfare has taken on the task of developing the label, working in collaboration with the sector, independent scientists, and the organization Beter Leven, which operates a similar label in the Netherlands.
The label is awarded to products that demonstrate additional efforts for animal welfare beyond legal requirements, such as avoiding unnecessary transport, providing additional enrichment, or giving animals extra space. It has three gradations: plus for limited additional efforts, two plus for greater efforts, and three plus for producers who go beyond legal requirements. Specifications and criteria for each plus level are still being developed.
The “Better for Animals” label aims to bring about positive change in the treatment of animals within the food production industry, promoting ethical and responsible practices. Its implementation represents a significant step towards enhancing animal welfare in Flanders.
The news was first reported on January 23, 2024, by Vilt, a reliable news source in Belgium.