MRSA - the label that would bring in the money

Pat's Note: The label I would like to see, would be "MRSA Free"

"British Pork - From MRSA Free herds" would bring the real premium prices
and save the pig industry.

I can't see the problem. Can you? The French, Danes, Dutch, Belgians and
Canadians, let alone Singapore can't say it. They have admitted that their
pigs have MRSA.

The statement would be true wouldn't it?

It would not be in restraint of free trade and would not mislead the
consumer. Perfectly acceptable and the road to a massive premium price.

Is there a problem?

http://www.meatinfo.co.uk/articles/56385/Why-laws-on-labelling-how-pigs-are-reared-will-not-work.aspx?categoryid=9045


Why laws on labelling how pigs are reared will not work

Published: (31-01-2008)

The RSPCA's calls to Defra for more precise regulations which define what is
mean by phrases such as 'outdoor reared' and 'outdoor-bred' could cause
difficulties for the pig industry, a firm of lawyers has warned.

This week the RSPCA has written to Defra, the FSA, BPEX, the British Retail
Consortium and leading supermarkets demanding a change to the labelling amid
concerns that the lack of information could mislead the consumer.

Owen Warnock, at law firm Eversheds, said while this would make it
absolutely clear whether or not particular words could or could not be used
to describe a particular pigmeat product, it would create two real
difficulties.

"The first is that selecting a range of specific phrases constrains
retailers and processors in the words that they can use to explain to
consumers the origin and the history of the meat. Since individual
supermarkets have different farming standards and specific preferences as to
the way in which talk to customers about their products, this is a real
commercial problem for them in a competitive market."

The other problem, he said, was one that always comes up when there is a
call for changes to food labelling in the UK. "Nearly all aspects of food
labelling law are prescribed by the European Union. In order to ensure that
there is a free market in food products across Europe, and to prevent
particular countries from erecting 'non-tariff barriers' to protect their
own industry, member states such as the UK are not permitted to add
additional labelling requirements unless there are exceptional
circumstances," added Warnock.


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Regards
Pat Gardiner
www.go-self-sufficient.com


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