Brussels, 22/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - The countries of origin for processed meat used as an ingredient in ready-made meals should be labelled, which is already the case for fresh beef meat, explained MEPs from the environment, public health and food safety committee at the European Parliament on Wednesday 21 January. The MEPs adopted a resolution in this connection by a large majority (48 votes for, 15 against, with 4 abstentions). They also urge the Commission to introduce legislative proposals to make it mandatory to state the country of origin of meat used in processed foods, in order to ensure more transparency throughout the food chain and better inform European consumers.
According to the MEPs, legislative proposals are required in order to rebuild consumer confidence in the wake of the horsemeat scandal in which horsemeat was fraudulently claimed to be beef in lasagne ready-made meals. (see EUROPE 11046 and 10989). MEPs reiterate their concern over the potential impact of food fraud on food safety, consumer confidence and health, the functioning of the food chain and farm produce prices.
On 17 December 2013 the Commission submitted a report on the likely consequences of making it mandatory to state the country of origin or place of provenance of meat used as an ingredient but did not suggest any kind of legislation. MEPs point out that the European Commission's own report acknowledges that more than 90% of consumer respondents consider it important that meat origin should be labelled on processed food products. This is one of the several factors that may influence consumer behaviour, MEPs say.
MEPs also point out that estimates of the measure's likely impact on prices, based on the findings of research done by the French consumer organisation Que Choisir, diverge widely from those in Commission's report, and ask for a clearer picture. The evaluation should be carried out in conjunction with consumer organisations and would not delay legislative proposals, they add.
These proposals should enable European businesses to operate in an economically viable manner and in conditions compatible with the consumer's purchasing power.
BEUC welcomes step in right direction. The European Consumers Organisation (BEUC) immediately welcomed this vote and said that this was a step towards removing the mystery surrounding the origin of meat in prepared meals sold throughout the EU. Camille Perrin an expert on food questions at the BEUC said: “90% of EU consumers want to know where the meat in the burgers and sausages they eat, comes from. Costs are at the heart of the debate. Although the Commission concluded that the labelling of origin would provoke a price hike of between 15 and 50%, the results in France demonstrate that a container of lasagne would only cost 1.5 cents of a euro more. This significant disparity undeniably demands a thoroughgoing re-examination of the real costs generated by the labelling of origin”.
MEPs are also calling on the Commission to adopt rules on the labelling of origin on a voluntary basis. The BEUC said that “consumers have the right to know whether the bacon that is claimed to be from Britain is in fact reconstituted pork from another country”. It did emphasise, however, that the essential aim was compulsory labelling and it is hoping that the European Parliament will follow the example of the environment committee when it gives its verdict on this matter in the February plenary session. (AN)