Farm leaders have called on government to introduce mandatory country-of-origin labelling for all meat and milk in processed products.
Organisations, including NFU Scotland and the National Pig Association, have written to Defra Secretary of State Andrea Leadsom asking for better labelling to give shoppers more choice and to increase transparency in the supply chain.
NFU Scotland has also sent a separate letter to Scottish Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing asking him to work with the UK Government on the issue.
In the joint letter to Ms Leadsom, the farming bodies call on the Defra secretary to use the Brexit negotiations to create “strong national legislation to ensure we have clear country-of-origin labelling in the future”.
“Farmers and growers produce high quality, nutritious products that carry the Red Tractor logo signalling excellent traceability and food safety, and as an industry we should be able to showcase these products to shoppers through mandatory country-of-origin labelling,” said the farming unions.
“Labelling needs to provide accurate, clear and relevant information so consumers can make an informed choice.”
The unions also called for continued use of food name protections, including European Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) such as Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb, once the UK leaves Europe.
