EU discusses ban on meat advertising

The European Commission is considering a ban on red MEAT advertising, which should limit the environmental impact of animal husbandry. However, representatives of the EU meat industry believe that in the long run such a decision will only harm farmers and consumers.

Seven major industry organizations are asking Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski to give a clear answer to this situation as they believe false data is being used to influence public opinion on this controversial issue. The loudest of them are from Poland, the country of origin of the current commissioner for agriculture.

Industry representatives are also outraged that the project initiators use false data and arguments, which can be divided into three groups.

Meat advertising ban - arguments in favor of HEALTH

In the case of health arguments, an attempt is made to compare the measures taken on red meat with those previously taken on ALCOHOL and tobacco products. Meanwhile, meat is not a stimulant, it is not addictive. Human nutrition scientists confirm that for hundreds of thousands of years, meat has been an important component of the human diet, providing protein, amino acids and substances necessary for human development, including vitamin B 12, which is found almost exclusively in animal products. origin, manufacturers indicate.

Industry representatives point out that the theses about the alleged harmfulness of meat only apply to improper processing or eating in violation of dietary requirements. Meat, consumed in reasonable quantities, is a natural and necessary component of the diet of every person.

Meat Advertising Ban - Environmental Arguments

In this case, meat producers are blamed for the huge consumption of water, pollution of the environment with animal feces, carbon dioxide and methane emissions. Industry representatives point out that, according to scientists, the term "water use" in animal husbandry does not exist.

All water "used" for meat production is returned to the environment. Manure is a natural method of fertilizing fields that has been used for thousands of years and is more environmentally friendly than synthetic fertilizers. Modern farms use systems that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and Poland also has farms that convert the resulting methane into energy, representatives of the meat sector say.

Meat Advertising Ban - Animal Protection

Organizations regret that all breeders are accused of isolated cases of mistreatment of animals. Meanwhile, for a breeder, animal welfare is an integral part of income. Sick, stressed and improperly kept animals do not grow, and their treatment or slaughter requires additional costs. That's why livestock keepers improve animal comfort, use air conditioning systems to maintain proper air quality and temperature in livestock buildings, use properly balanced animal feeds containing natural ingredients that increase animal resistance to disease, train employees and ensure the most humane slaughter conditions possible.

"Farmers are particularly upset by the fact that the planned changes could affect everyone, regardless of the scale of their animal welfare efforts, environmental decisions or product quality, and against the farm's strategy to support sustainable meat production," the open letter said, cited by magazine PortalSpozywczy.

However, Commissioner Wojciechowski said nothing is clear yet as speculation grows about a ban on meat advertising and promotion.