Overview
- The Bundestag voted to shift the start of the state animal‑welfare label for fresh pork to January 1, 2027, after previous targets of August 2025 and March 2026 were postponed.
- Union and SPD plan a fundamental redesign and target extending mandatory disclosure to restaurants and canteens around mid‑2027, with SPD’s Jens Behrens calling current rules not yet workable.
- Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer argues for simple, workable rules for menus and the coalition wants imported meat included, which critics note could face EU‑law hurdles.
- Retailers’ voluntary five‑stage ‘Haltungsform’ label remains widespread and 2024 data show shifts toward higher welfare, including beef Stage 1 down to 62.4% and Stage 3 up to 16.7% in self‑service counters.
- Initiative Tierwohl will launch two premium programs in 2026 to support stages 3 and 4, building on a stage‑2 scheme with about 13,000 farms, as farmers cite bureaucracy concerns and NGOs warn against weakening transparency.