Animal-friendly traditions? : animal welfare considerations in product specifications of EU geographical indications

The regulation on GI foods such as Parmesan cheese has been reinforced to promote more sustainable and animal-friendly food systems. Although GIs tend to be perceived as more animal-friendly due to their allegedly artisanal production, no previous research has broadly investigated the binding specifications for animal welfare across different GIs, despite known scandals and the lack of common rules. This study systematically analyses product specifications of 86 GI cow cheeses from France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. It reveals that 41% of the considered GIs commit to mandatory grazing days and 24% define a corresponding minimum space of grassland per cow. However, overall, the results indicate that the current contribution of GIs is limited. When compared to recognised criteria of animal welfare labels, the findings suggest that consumers should seek such established certification labels rather than relying on GI labels. For GIs to become genuinely animalfriendly, harmonisation and higher standards regarding indoor husbandry, painful procedures and calf treatment could be considered. As an alternative approach, GI producers might consider voluntarily aligning with existing animal welfare standards. Such alignment could enhance the credibility of their claims without adding a complex layer of rules to their own specifications.