WRITTEN QUESTION E-0636/99

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE) to the Commission

(16 March 1999)

Subject: Indication of the country of origin on packaging containing fresh vegetables or fruit

Regulation (EC) 2200/96(1) of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables states that standards are laid down for a number of types of fresh fruit and vegetables. These standards state that each packaging unit must consist of uniform product, which means that the product must come from the same country of origin.

Because of market reasons, auction houses are increasingly forced to cooperate on a regional or cross-border basis; in some instances this results in an international merger. In effect, this means that products from different European countries are brought together at the same auction. However, in accordance with the standards for sorting, packaging and labelling, batches of comparable product must be kept separate. The administrative costs are substantially higher than in cases where batches do not necessarily need to be kept separate.

Under certain circumstances it is already possible for apples originating in different countries to be brought together in a small packaging unit.

Can the Commission give the reasons for the provision that each packaging unit must consist of uniform product, why - under certain circumstances - this provision does not apply to apples and why the standards are relaxed only in respect of small packaging units and not sales in bulk?

Is the Commission prepared to submit a proposal to amend the abovementioned standards, firstly, to permit mixed large and small packaging units for all varieties of vegetables and fruit and, secondly, to prescribe the indication "originating in the EU" or a similar designation if these products all come from the same region or from the EU, and if it is not possible to indicate the Member State(s) of origin of the products?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 April 1999)

The system of product classification provided for in Council Regulation (EC) 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables has several aims, including the establishment of a frame of reference contributing to fair trade and market transparency and, consequently, improved profitability for the fruit and vegetables sector. The origin of the products is one of the main classification criteria. Production conditions vary greatly depending on the geographical area, and these variations have a profound influence on the fundamental characteristics of the products concerned. Moreover, the origin of the fruit and vegetables constitutes important information for the consumer, and this information often determines the choice of product. This explains why uniformity of geographical origin is a key feature of the marketing standards for fresh fruit and vegetables, alongside uniformity of class, size and variety.

Exemptions exist not only for apples but also for sweet peppers. For these products there is a demand for small packs intended for the final consumer containing different products, such as different varieties in the case of apples and different colours in the case of sweet peppers. For practical reasons, uniformity of origin is not required for such small packs involving different products.

The Commission is sensitive to the fact that the recent development of certain markets and marketing structures in some Member States means that, for certain cross-border regions, the provisions on uniformity contained in the marketing standards can prove awkward. This question is being studied at present by the group of national experts which assists the Commission in connection with the standardisation of fresh fruit and vegetables. The discussions could lead to the possibility of grouping together, both in bulk and in packs intended for the consumer, products of the same geographical origin but originating in different Member States. Wording such as "EU origin", however, does not seem appropriate, because of its lack of precision, which would not make it possible to meet the objectives of standardisation or to ensure that consumers receive correct information.

For the reasons set out above, the Commission does not intend to permit the mixture, in large and small quantities, of all kinds of varieties of fruit and vegetables.

(1) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1.