Major changes are set for the way fish and meat will be labelled in the future, if reports published in the Daily Telegraph are to be believed.
The newspaper reported that environment minister George Eustice is giving the idea of labelling meat and fish 'stunned' or 'non-stunned' some serious consideration. While there has been no definitive thumbs up from the minister regarding the proposals, animal welfare groups have welcomed the news that Mr Eustice is at least giving the idea some thought.
John Blackwell, president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), said: "This announcement from Defra Minister George Eustice is very welcome, and could make a significant difference to the amount of meat from non-stun slaughter entering the general foodchain without consumers’ knowledge."
He went on to say that labelling needs to be improved if the current practices are maintained: "BVA continues to campaign for all animals to be pre-stunned before slaughter to render them insensible to pain until death supervenes and our government e-petition has attracted nearly 80,000 signatures. But if it non-stun slaughter is to continue we must have clearer labelling."