The Animal Husbandry Labeling Act (THKG) has long faced criticism from market participants — from pig producers to processors and public authorities. Key concerns include technical flaws, excessive bureaucracy, and a lack of practical feasibility. As a result, the launch of the system has already been postponed twice — from August 2025 to January 2027.
While most industry stakeholders supported the delay, they insisted on substantial revisions to the law. However, the current stage of inter-ministerial consultations has revealed new disagreements between government bodies.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has raised objections to two key provisions. First, extending labeling requirements to the food service sector could impose an additional burden on businesses. Second, there are doubts about compliance with EU law regarding the inclusion of imported products under the labeling scheme.
As a result, the consultation process has effectively stalled, and the future of the draft law remains uncertain. This puts the legislative timeline at risk: after approval, the law must still undergo EU notification and be reviewed by the government and parliament by the end of the year.
At the same time, businesses stress the need for a sufficient transition period to adapt to the new requirements. According to industry estimates, preparing for the implementation of the labeling system will require at least six months after the final adoption of the law.
Thus, the reform, intended to improve transparency and animal welfare standards, is currently facing political and regulatory hurdles that may further delay its implementation.
PigUA.info, based on euromeatnews.com