"This wishy-washy, internal agreement within the People's Party (ÖVP) regarding origin labeling is simply inadequate. It should be clear to everyone that only a mandatory requirement will create genuine, comprehensive transparency. The fact that the Economic Association and the Farmers' Association are now celebrating an initiative they themselves launched around 10 years ago as a major breakthrough for origin labeling in the restaurant industry is blatant proof of the stagnation and self-imposed gridlock within the People's Party. What's being presented here already exists and has merely been spruced up with a bit of digitalization. Once again, the People's Party is selling old wine in new bottles and doesn't even know when it intends to implement it."

“No restaurateur will voluntarily admit that their cheap schnitzel comes from a pig factory in Spain or that the liquid egg in their Kaiserschmarren comes from Ukrainian battery cages,” says Voglauer. “This very dumping practice harms local farmers who produce under stricter standards. This needs to be addressed when it comes to transparency on the plate.”

"It's shameful how consistently the Farmers' Association backs down within its own party. For years, local farmers have been demanding mandatory origin labeling in restaurants, and now they're being fobbed off with yet another voluntary system because the business wing is blocking any further development. Especially after this catastrophic summer of drought, our farms need broad support and reliable partners – particularly in the restaurant sector. It's also remarkable that the two coalition partners, the SPÖ and NEOS, apparently have nothing to say on this. Agriculture Minister Totschnig should know best: anyone who wants to support our farmers and their high-quality products must ensure genuine transparency on the plate, not the marketing of sham solutions. We Greens will continue to advocate for a legal solution and true transparency."