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The French FNP (National Pork Federation) estimates that around 1,000 breeders rallied Wednesday at the Esplanade des Invalides in Paris to protest their grievances over country of origin labelling. The farmers demonstratiimage expired

The slogans on their banners and placards targeted meat curers and distributers, accusing them of swindling and theft, but the union also profited from the occasion to question state authorities over the plight of pork breeders.

The farmers demand the immediate implementation of an agreement spanning agricultural professions on country of origin labelling. The labelling measures were proposed and signed in December and will see the geographical origins of principal ingredients used by meat curers listed on packaging.

The scheme was to be rolled out during the first few months of this year. However, since the dioxin scandal exploded in Germany, damaging European markets, and the price of wheat continues to rocket, which the breeders say has weighed heavily on their production costs, they want immediate action. The protesting farmers claim that a breeder selling 4,000 head of pork a year loses 10,000€ a month in the current climate.

 “Last week the curers told us that they still had a stock of labels to use before they implement the country of origin labelling on packets” explained Michel Bloch, President of Brittany’s Union of Meat Producers, “You see the arguments we are up against? But it’s the distributers who give the orders on the products sold to consumers.”

The protesters in Paris were also demonstrating to send a message to the French Government. “15% of breeders are going out of business”, said Jean-Michel Serres, President of the National Pork Federation, “there are 8,000 employees in this field. The authorities cannot continue to be simple spectators in this crisis.”