UK food labelling reform demanded by NFUS
© Tim Scrivener NFU Scotland has called for urgent reform of UK food labelling rules, warning that current regulations are “confusing, inconsistent and unfair” to consumers and domestic producers.
The call comes with the publication on Wednesday 4 February of a new policy paper “Fair Labels, Fair Markets” (opens in PDF), which sets out a series of practical recommendations aimed at improving transparency across the food system.
Its release has been timed to coincide with NFU Scotland’s AGM and Conference in Glasgow on 5-6 February.
See also: NFU Scotland event spotlights farming innovation
The intervention comes a day before UK government minister for Scotland Kirsty McNeill MP is due to address NFU Scotland (NFUS) farmer members, giving the union a platform to press its proposals directly with ministers.
NFUS president Andrew Connon said shoppers were being misled by unclear labelling, and Scottish produce was being undermined.
“Consumers in Scotland care deeply about where their food comes from, but they’re being let down by vague and misleading labels,” he said.
“At the same time, world-class food produced by Scottish farmers and crofters is too often undermined or co-mingled with imports that don’t meet our standards.”
He added: “This paper sets out a clear path forward. We’re asking government and relevant agencies to back honest labelling, support domestic production, and give the public the transparency they deserve.”
The paper highlights that more than 80% of consumers say food origin matters to them, yet fewer than half feel they can easily find that information when shopping.
NFUS is urging the UK government to act on eight priorities, including clearer origin labelling across all food outlets, closing loopholes on processed meat, ending vague terms such as “mixed origin”, and protecting Scottish branding and flags from misuse.
‘Messy and inconsistent’ system
NFUS chief executive John Davidson said the issue affected everyday purchasing decisions.
“These aren’t abstract principles, they affect everyday decisions in shops, restaurants and supply chains,” he said.
“The current system is messy and inconsistent. We’re calling for a reset that protects integrity and builds trust.”
He added: “We’re not asking for more red tape, we’re asking for better rules, applied fairly and transparently.”