Pork Code aims to make labelling clearer

A new website full of useful information on Pork Provenance and the Code of Practice for the labelling of pork and pork products is now available. All the major retailers have signed up to the voluntary code, but there’s more work to do.

Early 2010 saw the launch of a new voluntary labelling code of practice for the labelling of pork and pork products. The Code covers country of origin of the meat, the production methods - free range, outdoor reared and outdoor bred) and breed definitions. 

“The Code - which was a result of the Pig Industry Supply Chain Initiative - was set up to provide the meat supply chain with a set of guidelines to help them produce clear, consistent and unambiguous labelling on all pork and pork products,”

says Kate Parkes from the RSPCA farm animals team.

“It will also help consumers, providing a valuable tool to help shoppers make a more informed choice when it comes to pork.

“So far all the major retailers and a number of processors and brands have signed up. In addition to these larger companies, it would be great if the Code could be extended to smaller outlets like farm shops and local butchers. If you have a farm shop, have you thought about signing up to the code?”

More information - including detail on the Code of practice, why it is important and a simple sign up process - can be found at www.porkprovenance.com