WRITTEN QUESTION E-2981/00 by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Italian typical products and Community rules.
Date: 2000-09-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, craft production, customs and traditions, designation of origin, foodstuff, foodstuffs legislation, heritage protection

C 136 E/146

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

(2001/C 136 E/170)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2981/00

by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 September 2000)

Subject: Italian typical products and Community rules

Italian typical products, which are a major economic resource, are currently seriously threatened by the
arbitrary and restrictive nature of the Community(cid:146)s rules and regulations on foodstuffs.

The prestige and quality of such products, which are not aimed at the mass market, depends on the use of
traditional ingredients and production methods. These methods date back centuries and it is certain that
changing them would result in inferior products that no longer retained their original distinctive taste and
other features and hence their historical authenticity and market value.

Typical products account for less than 10 % of Italy(cid:146)s agricultural output, but generate a market that
employs some 300 000 workers and contributes ITL 12 000 billion to that country(cid:146)s GDP; it is inevitable,
therefore, that any crisis in that sector would cause serious problems for employment and the economy as
well as having the effect of standardising consumer tastes and eliminating variety and freedom of choice in
relation to food.

Does the Commission agree that the rules governing the methods of producing certain foodstuffs

1.
should also take account of their special and exceptional features?

Does the Commission agree that, at a time of accelerating globalisation and standardisation to the
2.
detriment of quality, there are cultural reasons as well as economic and employment-related reasons for
preserving the typical characteristics of products?

3. What changes does the Commission intend to make to its own rules to ensure they do not destroy
for ever (cid:145)niche(cid:146) products such as these?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 2000)

By proposing as part of the reform of the common agricultural policy that defining aspects of agricultural
production should be taken into account, the Commission not only guaranteed a future for specific
features and production methods but also responded to the expectations of the consumers, who are
increasingly attracted by specific and identifiable products.

Council Regulations (EEC) Nos 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of
origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (1) and 2082/92 on certificates of specific character for
agricultural products and foodstuffs (1) permit the use of quality labels to identify and protect agricultural
production directed towards quality, particularly where this is based on the reputation of the ingredients
and the traditional method of manufacture.

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that in an age of standardisation the safeguard of
typical products linked to local areas not only assists the agricultural economy but is also important for
rural development. Giving typical products a special status helps promote a diversified agriculture and so
support a viable rural society throughout the Community. This protects the traditions and culture of
certain geographical areas.

With regard to the changes that the Commission intends to make to existing rules, it must be stressed that
the Community has first to promote its agricultural development model and to develop its areas and
products. This is the aim of
the current negotiations within the World Trade Organisation. The
Community thus intends to defend the creation of a multilateral register for any agricultural product
which has a specific link with its area of production.

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/147

The Commission is aware that certain elements of the food hygiene legislation were considered, in certain
Member States, to be too stringent with regard to the production of traditional food. The rules on food
hygiene are laid down in Council Directive 93/43/EEC of 14 June 1993, on general food hygiene (2) in
force since 1995. However, on 14 July 2000, the Commission adopted a set of proposals that aim to
consolidate and simplify the existing food hygiene rules (3). These proposals, once adopted, would leave as
a matter of subsidiarity a possibility for the Member States to adapt the hygiene requirements to take
account of traditional production methods. This offers a great flexibility and represents a tool for the
Member States to tune the food hygiene requirements in such a way that they perfectly fit with the needs
of the sectors concerned.

(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992.
(2) OJ L 175, 19.7.1993.
(3) COM(2000) 438 final.

(2001/C 136 E/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2983/00

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE), Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE),
Jas Gawronski (PPE-DE), Gianfranco Fini (UEN), Umberto Bossi (TDI),
Pier Casini (PPE-DE), Rocco Buttiglione (PPE-DE)
and Francesco Turchi (UEN) to the Commission

(20 September 2000)

Subject: The fall in the value of the euro

The reports received over the last few weeks, and more particularly in the last few hours, concerning the
declining value of the euro in relation to the dollar and other currencies have given rise to serious concern
in the European Parliament.

In view of the often unduly optimistic statements made by individual Members of the Commission, the
Council and the European Central Bank (ECB), we call on the Council to issue an official response to the
problem explaining the economic, financial and monetary policy the European Union intends to adopt to
address the difficult situation of its currency and reverse its hitherto apparently inexorable decline.

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(8 November 2000)

In assessing developments in the exchange rate of the euro, some important considerations are often
unduly disregarded. The euro has already delivered substantial benefits to the participating Member States.
Inflation and interest rates are low by historical standards, the new macroeconomic policy framework
guarantees stability and growth, and the integration of financial markets is progressing rapidly. While the
Commission maintains the view that the current level of the euro is not in line with the economic
situation,
in an historical
perspective of the floating exchange regime since the 1970s. In the case of a relatively closed economic
area like the euro area, economic policy should generally not be directed to the exchange rate but rather at
domestic objectives such as growth and inflation.

it should be kept in mind that the recent fluctuations are not exceptional

The scope of the Commission to provide an official response as to the (cid:145)economic, financial and monetary
policy(cid:146) that the Community intends to follow to stop the decline in the euro is limited. It is worth pointing
out that Member States are required by the EC Treaty to treat their exchange rate as a matter of common
concern. The Commission provides analyses for the regular exchange rate surveillance carried out by the
Economic and financial committee, the Ecofin Council and the Eurogroup, but has no direct responsibility
for the monetary and exchange rate policies of the euro area.