Brussels, 22/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament (EP) agriculture committee reached a compromise on Tuesday 21 June on the draft regulation on quality systems for agricultural products. With its adoption of the report by Iratxe García Pérez (S&D, Spain) by 33 votes to none, with four abstentions, the committee amended the initial proposal to make quality labelling schemes, designed to help producers compete with imports from non-EU countries, as simple as possible, to explain clearly to consumers what these labels mean, to speed up the registration process and to allow producers better to protect their products and promote mountain products. There could also be labels for island products and sales direct from the farm, MEPs say.
The García Pérez report will be debated by the EP at September's plenary session in Strasbourg (26-29 September). The second legislative proposal of the quality package (on marketing standards) will be put to the vote in the agriculture committee on 4 July.
The proposal on quality systems for agricultural products provides for one single body of rules for the labelling of foodstuffs (fresh meat, cheeses, beers, fruits, vegetables, oils, breads and pastry, etc) from a given geographical area or that were produced or processed in line with a traditional practice. The new rules will also apply to dark chocolate and salt. “Light” and “low-fat” products will be eligible for optional labelling introduced by member states on a voluntary basis. Wines and spirits will continue to be excluded.
Simplifying and strengthening current rules. To encourage more producers to register their agricultural, fishery and aquaculture products and foodstuffs and to enable customers to make more informed choices, MEPs want the whole procedure streamlined and shortened, rules simplified and protection of registered products strengthened. The new rules will cut the time allowed for the Commission to respond to a request to register a label from 12 to just 6 months. The committee also shortened the time allowed for raising objections.
Quality labelling schemes. Three quality labelling schemes are currently in use in the EU: the “protected designation of origin” (PDO) label which is used for products produced, processed and also prepared in a given area - such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Shetland Lamb, Feta, and Roquefort; - the “protected geographical indication” (PGI) label which may be used for produce and foodstuffs for which at least one production stage takes place in the specified region, for example, Starobrnìnské pivo, Schwarzwälder Schinken, or Castaña de Galicia; - and the “traditional speciality guaranteed” (TSG) label, when producers use a recognised traditional method to make, for instance, Vieille Kriek, Liptovská saláma, Kalakukko, or Prekmurska gibanica.
Stronger role for producers. Food producers' groups - any association of producers, processors or producer-processors - will be empowered to take measures to protect their proprietary names, improve the performance of the scheme and promote the authenticity and reputation of their products. To improve the functioning of the market, these groups will also be empowered to establish, in cooperation with and after endorsement of their member state, a system for managing production of protected products, in other words, to “adjust” supply and demand. However, such arrangements must in no way harm competition on the single market or lead to small producers being adversely affected, MEPs stress.
Compulsory EU logo. The EU symbols associated with the PDO, PGI and TSG labels must be made compulsory for all registered products originating in the EU, says the committee. These labels would have to appear on the product with the name of the label used and the product's registered name. In the case of the PDO and PGI schemes, a depiction of the geographical area of origin or a symbol referring either to the member state or the region may also appear on the labelling. Use of the EU logo will continue to be voluntary for products originating in third countries.
TSG. The new rules provide for a complete overhaul of the “traditional specialties” label. MEPs amended the TSG scheme so as to safeguard not only traditional production methods, but also recipes. Produce and foodstuff producers applying for a TSG label will have to prove usage on a domestic market for two generations, that is, 50 years, rather than one generation (25 years), as is the case today. The committee inserted exemptions for old products and recipes which have been revived only recently. In such cases, the 25-year rule will continue to apply. Products which producers apply to register before the new legislation enters into force will be registered even if they do not comply with the two-generation rule. The practice of registering a product for a TSG label without reserving a name must be abolished at EU level, say MEPs. Products that comply with the two-generation rule will be transferred to a new register at the request of the relevant member state, using a procedure introduced by the committee, but others may continue to be registered only until 31 December 2017.
Mountain and islands. New optional quality labels (to be introduced by member states on a voluntary basis) should be made available, says the committee, to enable mountain and possibly in the future also island producers and local farmers to show consumers how they add value on the single market. MEPs therefore amended the Commission proposal to make a mountain product label available immediately for products processed in mountain areas or in areas close to them.
The committee also called on the European Commission to produce an impact study by 30 September 2012 on two other labels: “product of island farming” and a new scheme for local farmers whose produce is intended for direct sales. A legislative proposal may follow, if deemed necessary. (L.C./transl.rt)