Overview

• The government has moved the compulsory launch date from August 1, 2025, to March 1, 2026, after federal states requested additional time to set up registration and monitoring.
• The five-tier label will classify pig rearing conditions from “Stall,” denoting minimal legal standards, through to “Bio,” reflecting certified organic practices.
• Consumer advocates such as the Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband criticised the delay and called on the coalition to use the extra time to widen and clarify the scheme.
• Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer argued that the postponement ensures the label will function flawlessly from day one by giving states and industry more lead time.
• A supermarket-led voluntary “Haltungsform” label already covers over 90 percent of affected products, highlighting existing transparency efforts before the state scheme takes effect.