Brussels, 24/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - MEPs at the European Parliament Environment Committee are not simply going to sit back and do nothing just because the European Commission has so far proved reticent with regard to the question of the mandatory labelling of the origins of certain foodstuffs.
This is borne out in an oral question they approved on Tuesday 23 February by a comfortable majority (56 votes in favour, with 2 against) in the hope that the European Parliament can raise this question with the Commission during its plenary at the end of April or May.
This question was submitted by Renate Sommer (EPP, Germany), Glenis Willmott (S&D, United Kingdom), Julie Girling (ECR, United Kingdom), Anneli Jäätteenmäki (ALDE, Finland), Lynn Boylan (GUE/NGL, Ireland), Michèle Rivasi (Greens/EFA, France), Piernicola Pedicini (ELDD, Italy) and Matteo Salvini (ENL, Italy). The MEPs want to know:
1) When the Commission intends to make its presentation to the Parliament and hold discussions with it regarding feasibility reports on this kind of labelling for milk, milk used as an ingredient in milk products and other kinds of meat excluding bovine, pork, ovine, caprine and poultry meats for non-processed food products, products that include a single ingredient and ingredients that make up more than 50% of a specific foodstuff.
This will involve two detailed European Commission reports dating back to May 2015, which both concluded that voluntary labelling of origin for milk products and certain so-called “minor” meat products comprise the most appropriate solution, given the costs of compulsory labelling of countries of origin (see EUROPE 11320 and 11318);
2) What the Commission means by “slightly processed” foodstuffs, particularly with regard to milk products and basic meat products. On the basis of their question, MEPs note that, according to the survey accompanying the report on milk and “minor” meats, the increase in costs for compulsory labelling of origin for milk and milk used as an ingredient in milk products resulted in making the production process more complicated. They also pointed out that “given that the legislation in force does not distinguish between processed foodstuffs and non-processed foodstuffs, the Commission is not making a distinction between the different degrees of product processing”.
3) If the Commission now intends to look at the possibility of restricting, initially, the compulsory indication of the country of origin for slightly processed products, “given that the costs linked to the labelling of origin are expected to considerably decline if it is limited” for these products. The MEPs also highlight the example of cheese and cream, sausages and bacon. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)