The German Animal Welfare Federation welcomes today's clarification by Lidl to increase the proportion of its fresh meat range with farming methods level 3 and 4 to 50 percent by 2025, but at the same time warns that the already manageable criteria of the retailer's farming methods should not be further watered down in order to keep the amount of meat on offer stable with low criteria. Thomas Schröder, President of the German Animal Welfare Federation, comments:
"Lidl has achieved its initial goals and remains on course, which we welcome. The retailer is responding to society's desire for more animal welfare and has announced that it will keep more animals in better conditions. In doing so, it is well ahead of the politicians. However, it is now crucial that the criteria for husbandry levels 3 and 4 actually guarantee more animal welfare and do not just exist on paper. Trading companies should take a very close and critical look at what they award a 3 or 4 for.
At present, many programs within the levels are competing to undercut each other - with only a few criteria and an inadequate level of control, with the sole aim of obtaining a 3 or 4 as a label.
Lidl must underpin the credibility of its promises with transparency. To do this, the retailer must be prepared to subject its supply programs to appropriate, technically sound controls. With our animal welfare label "Für Mehr Tierschutz" (For More Animal Welfare), which is sorted into husbandry levels 3 (entry level) and 4 (premium level) with ambitious criteria, we are happy to offer our support to retailers."
