Animal welfare campaigners are difficult the choice to permit producers of Scottish salmon to drop the phrase “farmed” from labelling.
An software by the business physique claimed altering the protected title wording on the entrance of packaging from “Scottish farmed salmon” to “Scottish salmon” made sense as a result of wild salmon was now not offered in supermarkets, which customers have been conscious of.
However charities and cooks have criticised the choice by the Division for Surroundings, Meals and Rural Affairs (Defra), taken final month, to permit Salmon Scotland’s software, saying it facilitates greenwashing and can mislead customers.
Rachel Mulrenan, of WildFish, one of many organisations bringing the authorized problem, mentioned: “As sustainability points turn out to be more and more vital, it is a thinly disguised try by the Scottish salmon farming business to drag the wool over customers’ eyes, each within the UK and additional afield.
“Greater than ever, folks must know the true origin of the merchandise they’re shopping for and consuming, in order that they will make knowledgeable selections. This name-change is a step within the unsuitable route.”
The change pertains to the labelling of salmon from Scotland beneath the protected geographical indication (PGI) scheme, which was introduced in to exchange an analogous EU scheme. Different protected Scottish merchandise embody Scotch whisky, lamb and beef. The very fact the salmon is farm-raised will nonetheless should be displayed on the again of packaging.
On the time the applying was granted, Salmon Scotland mentioned: “When customers speak about ‘Scottish salmon’, they’re speaking about farm-raised Atlantic salmon from Scotland – and this alteration makes that clear.”
Abigail Penny, the chief director of Animal Equality UK, the opposite organisation interesting to the first-tier tribunal, mentioned: “Altering a label doesn’t change the truth. The Scottish farmed salmon business is riddled with points. Lethal lice infestations and illness outbreaks aren’t simply widespread, they’re the norm, and they’re inflicting tens of millions of salmon to die on farms every year. Moderately than admit to its ineptitude, the business is as an alternative trying to bury the reality, and dangers severely deceiving unsuspecting customers within the course of.”
Intensive salmon farming may also threaten wild salmon populations if escaped farmed fish breed with wild fish. Greater than 200 cooks and eating places, in addition to 60 group teams, charities and NGOs, are supporting WildFish’s “off the desk” marketing campaign, which asks cooks and eating places to take farmed salmon off their menus.
Animal Equality UK and Wildfish declare that, in addition to deceptive customers, the change to the PGI breaches assimilated EU Regulation 1151/2012 on high quality schemes for agricultural merchandise and foodstuffs.
Tim Maddams, the previous head chef of the River Cottage Canteen, mentioned: “Be it farmed salmon which are consumed wild-caught fish and reared in low-welfare heaps that pollute these lovely distant locations, or the huge array of not-quite-commitments to welfare requirements (‘outside bred, freedom meals, outside reared’) of land-based agriculture, this determination is yet another nail within the coffin for Scotland’s wild salmon and sea trout and one other alternative for revenue from this disappointing business.”
The naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham, who’s the president of the animal welfare charity the RSPCA, has described the rising Scottish salmon farming business as “catastrophic” for fish welfare and Scotland’s surroundings.
Tavish Scott, the chief government of Salmon Scotland, mentioned: “We all know when customers speak about ‘Scottish salmon’ they’re speaking in regards to the salmon produced by our member corporations, and the replace to the PGI is a small however vital clarification.”
Defra declined to remark whereas proceedings have been beneath means.
