WRITTEN QUESTION E-3117/02

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 October 2002)

Subject: Galician mussels protected designation of origin

Between 260 and 300 million kg of mussels put on the market each year, a turnover of more than EUR 400 million, 2 400 families directly involved in the farming and a total of 13 000 jobs, of which around 8 500 are permanent, with another 7000 indirectly related jobs all this marks out Galician mussel farming as a strong sector and makes the region the world's leading producer of mussels for human consumption. This is particularly important, bearing in mind that the resources generated by mussel production are spread across a broad social base and that decisions are taken locally, with the result that funds are reinvested in the region. This has a multiplier effect on the local economy, helping to produce socio-economic stability. The sector accounts for approximately 50 % of total EU production, with 35 % being sold fresh, 41 % earmarked for traditional processing and 24 % for new alternative processing methods, which are increasingly popular.

The mussel farming management board in Galicia has already applied for a protected designation of origin (PDO) for this product, which would serve as a world-wide standard since it would be the first ever awarded to a seafood product. In the reply of 19 February 2001 to my parliamentary question E-0013/01(1), Commissioner Fischler confirmed that the Commission has indeed received an application from the Spanish authorities regarding registration of the name in question as a protected designation of origin and gave an assurance that the application was being considered.

Can the Commission provide a progress report on the approval and registration process for the PDO?

Can the Commission explain the reasons for the delay and any possible obstacles to approval?

Can the Commission state what measures it has taken or intends to take to speed up the approval of this PDO for Galician mussels and when it thinks the approval and registration process will be completed?

(1) OJ C 235 E, 21.8.2001, p. 87.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(29 November 2002)

The application for the name Mejillones de Galicia to be registered as a protected designation of origin (PDO) was submitted on 19 February 2001. The file is currently being examined by the Scientific Committee for PDOs, protected geographical indications (PGIs) and traditional specialities guaranteed (TSGs).

The file received did not contain all the information required to demonstrate that the application for registration satisfied the conditions laid down in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 of 14 July 1992 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs(1), and particularly in Articles 2 and 4. The Commission has therefore asked on several occasions for further information in order to be able to assess the validity of the application, inter alia as regards the nature and composition of the applicant group, the identification of the products in question, the marketing description used, and the link between product characteristics and conditions in the defined geographical area, comprising natural and human factors.

Since the replies received have not been sufficient to dispel the doubts about certain aspects of the application, the Scientific Committee has been asked to give an opinion.

The examination of the application for the name Mejillones de Galicia to be registered has already been the subject of several working meetings of the Scientific Committee, which has also asked for further information. The Commission as the provider of the Scientific Committee's secretariat is required to facilitate the availability of any information requested by Committee members, whose independence must also be guaranteed. Consequently, the Commission may not influence the Committee's work or adopt any measures designed to force its conclusions. The next meeting will take place in early January 2003.

(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992.