Tesco promises tighter import welfare rules

10 December 1999



Tesco promises tighter import welfare rules

By Alistair Driver

TESCO has pledged to introduce tougher auditing of suppliers to ensure overseas own-label products comply with the requirements imposed on UK pig producers.

The auditing, expected to start this month, involves random spot checks in Tesco stores on products which will be traced back to the farm of origin.

Tesco claims that all its own-label fresh imported pigmeat is produced in stall-and-tether-free systems and without the use of meat and bonemeal.

But the auditing scheme, which comes in the traditionally busy Christmas period, is designed to ensure a level playing field for UK producers, it added.

Tesco is also in the process of introducing clearer country of origin labelling on own-label key pigmeat products, such as bacon, gammon and cooked ham.

The retailers announcement comes at a time when supermarket claims about the origins of their pigmeat are under more scrutiny than ever.

MAFF has recently appointed meat trades adviser Mike Roper specifically to look for misleading labelling and to check if supermarkets are sticking to their promises.

Producers are also keeping the pressure up on supermarkets who have promised the government that their imported pigmeat is produced to UK standards.

A November survey of 440 supermarkets by pig industry activists showed 3% less bacon (to 50%) and ham (to 66%) identified as British since September.

Iceland was identified as the biggest culprit, with only 83% of its fresh pork identified as British compared with 92% in September.

The amount of bacon in Iceland labelled as British fell from 35% to 25% and its ham down from 31% to 1%.

Tesco was one of the best supporters of British pork (98% labelled as British) and ham (85%), but only 48% of its bacon was identified as British.