News Pigs & Pork
Resistance to new standards from Lidl Germany
Supermarket chain Lidl has announced that by 2025 in Germany, not only 50% of the fresh meat supply, but also half of the sausages must meet the third level of the German Tierwohl standard. The question is whether enough pig farmers are willing to switch. Slaughterhouses fear increasing scarcity.
The Tierwohl concept can roughly be compared to the one-star Better Life label of the Animal Protection. Currently, 30% of the sausages sold by Lidl meet the standards of the concept.
Discounters take the lead
At the end of February, Lidl already announced a similar goal for fresh meat. At that time, 33% of the fresh meat supply already met the standard. By the end of 2024, 40% must meet this standard.
In Germany, the major discounters are taking the lead in animal welfare. In addition to Lidl, the major competitor Aldi has set a goal to fully switch to the third or fourth level of the Tierwohl concept by 2030.
Industry not ready
In Germany, however, the sector does not seem ready to switch. German agricultural media report that insufficient farmers are willing to participate in the concept. There is also fear of even greater shortages. The pig market has been tight for years and the switch will almost certainly lead to a decline. In the Netherlands, a transition to a minimum one-star Better Life standard in the poultry meat sector, for example, resulted in a 40% decrease in the poultry population.
