The state animal welfare label is primarily a sign of how long political decision-making processes in Germany take.
Ten years ago, the then Federal Minister of Agriculture, Ilse Aigner (CSU), advocated the introduction of an animal welfare label.
She failed, as did two other Union ministers.
Now the Green Cem Özdemir wants to finish what his predecessors started.
From next year, the state animal welfare label should be available in stores.
In what form, however, is still unknown.
Even under Özdemir progress is slow.
A project that has been overtaken by time is being pushed forward with a great deal of political effort.
Because consumers have long since ceased to be disoriented.
The keeping labels for fresh meat developed by the trade itself can hardly be overlooked, the classification into four levels - from the legal minimum standard to organic quality - is visually easy to grasp.
At least initially, the state's five-stage model is likely to cause more confusion than clarity.
Little incentive for farmers
It also has several design flaws.
Özdemir's license plate should initially only apply to pork.
Beef and poultry account for more than 40 percent of meat consumption.
In addition, the state label should only apply to meat produced in Germany.
That is the price that Özdemir pays for fulfilling the Greens and SPD's desire for a binding regulation.
But it is not clear whether consumers will therefore buy more German meat.
Anyone who prefers not to deal with the keeping conditions so precisely could also increasingly resort to cheaper imported goods.
It is doubtful that farmers invest in large numbers in better husbandry conditions under these circumstances.
Especially since Özdemir can offer them little more than one billion euros in start-up financing for the conversion of the stables.
In view of an inflation rate of almost 8 percent, a higher VAT on meat or an animal welfare levy is unlikely to be politically feasible.
With a state animal welfare label alone, however, agriculture will not turn green.