Brussels, 23/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - MEPs from the European Parliament Environment, Food Safety Committee have reiterated their call for mandatory country or place of origin labelling for certain kinds of foodstuffs such as milk and meat in processed foods.
On Tuesday 22 March in Brussels, they repeated this call by adopting a draft resolution (44 votes in favour, with 19 against) and reiterating the position put forward by the European Parliament on many different occasions to no avail. The European Commission remains a supporting voluntary labelling and has argued against this measure on account of the costs that it would create.
This draft resolution follows a question MEPs previously submitted requesting an oral response from the Commission because they are determined to guarantee transparency in the food chain and restore the confidence of consumers who have been unambiguous in their support for this measure (see EUROPE 11498).
MEPs believe that compulsory labelling should apply for certain so-called “minor” kinds of meat (other than that of bovine, porcine, ovine and caprine species and poultry meat for which mandatory labelling already applies), as well as for milk and milk used as an ingredient in dairy products, unprocessed foods, single-ingredient products and ingredients that make up more than 50% of a food.
MEPs also point out that the mandatory indication of the origin of milk, sold as such or used as an ingredient in dairy products, is a useful measure to protect the quality of dairy products, combat food fraud and protect employment in a sector which is going through a severe crisis.
The motion for a resolution, co-signed by MEPs Glenis Willmott (S&D, UK), Julie Girling (ECR, UK), Anneli Jäätteenmäki (ALDE, FI), Lynn Boylan (GUE/NGL, IE), Michèle Rivasi (Greens/EFA, FR), Piernicola Pedicini (EFDD, IT) and Matteo Salvini (ENF, IT) will be put to a vote during the April or May plenary sessions in Strasbourg. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)