Strasbourg, 26/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - In a common EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA and ECR resolution adopted on Wednesday 25 November in a plenary session in Strasbourg, (529 votes in favour, 27 against, with 37 abstentions), the European Parliament called for clear marks of origin to enable consumers to know precisely where the products they purchase come from. To this end, Parliament calls for the implementation of a system for marks of origin, which provides consumers with better information regarding the respect by manufacturers of social and environmental standards. The European Commission and member states are effectively obliged to resolutely defend European consumers against fraudulent or misleading markings by foreign importers or producers.
Contrary to the USA and China, the EU does not currently have clear or uniform practices on marks of origin. On the contrary, disparities between national regulations create confusion for consumers and fragment the legal framework in this area. Parliament is therefore requesting that the Commission maintains its draft European regulation for obligatory marks for the country of origin, which will initially be applied to textile products jewellery, clothing and footwear, furniture, leather goods, lights and lamps, glass and ceramic objects and handbags. The Commission's revised draft text is not being applied to products which are not destined for final consumer use or to products imported from countries that are signatory to free trade agreements with the EU.
In response to the huge number of Chinese textile products coming into the Community market following the lifting of textile quotas (“bra wars”), the Commission previously submitted a draft regulation in 2005 that introduced the label of origin obligation; the proposal, nonetheless, was blocked at the Council because several member states were afraid of an excessive administrative burden and others saw it as a means of developing a boycott of products manufactured in China or elsewhere. (E.H./transl.fl)