Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential benefit of further formalising (a) environmental performance certification and (b) labelling for food products.
Independent farm assurance schemes provide a valuable service by enabling farmers to secure recognition for their high standards through certification. Defra is exploring how a common way of measuring sustainability can work with these schemes to give further clarity to consumers.
At present, food labelling rules are harmonised in the EU under the Food Information to Consumers Regulation 1169/2011. The UK’s exit from the EU will provide us with the opportunity to review food labelling laws to ensure that consumers’ confidence in the food they buy continues to grow.