Brussels, 13/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission was correct in introducing compulsory labelling for citrus fruits that are subject to post-harvest processing using preserving agents or other chemical substances, the General Court of the EU ruled on Thursday 13 November (case T-481/11), dismissing Spain's action for annulment of the measure.
In June 2011, the Commission made such labelling compulsory for packages containing lemons, mandarins and oranges, going further than the UNECE standard, which proposed optional labelling.
First of all, the General Court notes that the Commission was not obliged to adopt, at EU level, a marketing standard for citrus fruit identical to the UNECE standard. Then the principle of equal treatment and non-discrimination among producers has not been infringed, as Spain had argued. The court points out that these citrus fruits are peculiar in that their peel can also be used in cooking, thereby justifying making such labelling compulsory for these fruits but not for others. The measure is also proportionate to the objective pursued since the consumer is aware that, where there is no specific labelling (organic farming), fruit and vegetables are likely to have been chemically treated after harvest. The Court also rejects Madrid's argument that the measure puts citrus fruit from the EU at a competitive disadvantage on third-county markets, since it is not acceptable, from a health point of view, to distinguish between consumers within the EU and those outside. Furthermore, that uniform high level of consumer protection helps to maintain and strengthen their position on international markets: it is part of the image of quality and reliability of products originating in the EU, the Court notes. (JK)