Brussels, 22/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 22 July, COPA-COGECA welcomed the initiative by Commissioner Dacian Ciolos on olive oil and called on him to introduce action to guarantee better consumer information about the high quality of olive oil and the different categories of products.
Pekka Pesonen, the secretary general of COPA-COGECA, pointed out that, over the past two years, producers had made significant efforts and invested heavily to improve the quality of olive oil, despite the difficult market situation. He said: “We need to capitalise on their efforts and make sure that consumers know what they're getting”. COPA repeated its disappointment that, on 23 May last, the Commission had had to withdraw proposals aiming to better inform consumers about the origin and quality of olive oil (see EUROPE 10851). Germany and the United Kingdom opposed the proposed system preventing the re-use of olive oil bottles in restaurants after their contents mentioned on the label have been used up. This measure was aimed at preventing customers being cheated. On 18 September, COPA-COGECA will organise an event on olive oil at the EP, which aims to guarantee the best possible information for consumers on the quality of the olive oil they consume. (LC/transl.fl)