WRITTEN QUESTION P-3065/02

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(22 October 2002)

Subject: National origin of food products

Recent cases, such as that of Genoese pesto, have once again highlighted the issue of accurate information for consumers/purchasers about food products, especially in relation to their origin. In particular the habit of using Italian names for products which have nothing to do with Italy has become widespread, as has the practice of appropriating the names of traditional recipes, without respecting the content.

In the case of products which are not protected by a European quality mark (Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92(1)), the safeguarding of accurate consumer information as regards the origin and identity of a product referred to by a traditional name is ensured by the Directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs, No 2000/13/EC(2).

Can the Commission say:

- which Member States have transposed Directive 2000/13/EC in its entirety;

- what its general view is of the actual impact of Directive 2000/13/EC, and more particularly the measures to be adopted in the event of behaviour infringing its provisions and misleading the consumer;

- whether information measures for the promotion of agricultural products in the internal market carried out pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000(3) may also be directed towards familiarising European consumers with the quality of the traditional products of the individual Member States?

(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 109, 6.5.2000, p. 29.

(3) OJ L 328, 23.12.2000, p. 2.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 2002)

Directive 2000/13/EC(1) is the consolidated version of Directive 79/112/EEC on the labelling of foodstuffs(2) and its subsequent amendments.

Directive 2000/13/EC does not therefore require any national measures to transpose it, as all of its provisions were transposed following adoption of the original texts.

Article 2 of the above Directive establishes the principle that labelling must not be such as could mislead the consumer as to the characteristics of the foodstuff and, in particular, as to its nature, identity, properties, composition, quantity, durability, origin or provenance, method of manufacture or production.

The national authorities continue to be responsible for monitoring compliance with these provisions and for taking action if they ascertain any infringements.

The Commission would like to remind the Honourable Member that Regulation (EC) No 2026/2000(3) provides in particular for support for information programmes on the Community systems of protected designations of origin (PDOs), protected geographical indications (PGIs) and traditional specialities guaranteed (TSGs).

Programmes such as these may be proposed by trade associations or inter-branch organisations or, in the absence of a private initiative, by the Member States concerned.

(1) Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs, OJ L 109, 6.5.2000.

(2) OJ L 33, 8.2.1979.

(3) Council Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000 of 19 September 2000 on information and promotion actions for agricultural products on the internal market, OJ L 328, 23.12.2000.