WRITTEN QUESTION P-3092/02 by Luciana Sbarbati (ELDR) to the Commission. New rules for the marketing of olive oil.
Date: 2002-10-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, application of EU law, bottling, bulk product, consumer protection, designation of origin, labelling, market approval, marketing standard, olive oil

8.5.2003

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Does the Commission see any possibility of relaxing the restrictions on guaranteed quantities as from
3.
the 2003 crop year, for example by allowing quantities that have not been utilised by a Member State to
be utilised by another Member State where the guaranteed quantities have been exceeded?

(1) OJ L 193, 29.7.2000, p. 16.
(2) OJ L 35, 6.2.2001, p. 18.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 2002)

1.
The Commission is already aware that fibre flax and hemp can be used in the motor vehicle industry
and mentioned this in the explanatory memorandum accompanying the market organisation reform it
proposed for the sector in November 1999.

To encourage profitable disposal of crops for industrial use aid is granted for processing flax and hemp
straw to yield fibre that is sufficiently cleaned for such use.

These crops are also supported under the aid scheme for growers of certain arable crops.

2.
The processing aid scheme for straw was introduced only in the 2001/2002 marketing year.
A Commission report due before the end of 2003 will cover production trends and the national
guaranteed quantities. Since in order to reconcile sound administration and the particular nature of the
markets in this sector the period during which flax straw can be processed is 22 months, at present the
Commission has only provisional production figures for 2001/2002 and first estimates for 2002/2003. It
is too early therefore to draw conclusions about national guaranteed quantity levels and a report drawn up
early would be at serious risk of irrelevance.

3.
Transferring national guaranteed quantities between Member States would require amendment of
Council Regulation (EC) No 1673/2000 of 27 July 2000 on the common organisation of the markets in
flax and hemp grown for fibre (1).

(1) OJ L 193, 29.7.2000.

(2003/C 110 E/181)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3092/02

by Luciana Sbarbati (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 October 2002)

Subject: New rules for the marketing of olive oil

Whilst the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee is considering the amendments to the directive
on the protection of designations of origin for agri-foodstuffs, the new EU regulation on olive oil will
come into force on 1 November 2002.

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8.5.2003

This regulation is likely to have some adverse effects, at least initially:

(cid:1) It authorises the product to be sold (cid:1) albeit for a transitional period of one year (cid:1) without its origin

being indicated;

(cid:1) It introduces the indication ‘Made in Italy’, but a quarter of the oil bottled and sold in Italy comes from
Spain, Greece, Morocco, Turkey, Tunisia, Algeria, etc. The production of oil is regulated in Europe.
What checks are made on the pesticides used in North African countries and on compliance with
hygiene standards?

(cid:1) It bans the sale of oil in bulk. It introduces the obligation to market it in containers holding no more
than five litres. It therefore in effect prevents producers from selling direct to the consumer, adding
the costs of bottling and distribution to those of production;

(cid:1) It creates inconvenience for large-scale consumers (cid:1) restaurateurs and families, who traditionally
(especially in certain regions in central and southern Italy) buy a year’s supply at a time from the
producer;

(cid:1) It forces small producers (who do not belong to an organisation) to sell all their production to
the product on the national and

consortia or co-operatives, which arrange for distribution of
international markets.

Can we be sure that in these circumstances consumers will be protected?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 2002)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1019/2002 of 13 June 2002 on marketing standards for olive oil (1) was
adopted following a resolution of Parliament and complies with the recommendations the Council made
on examining the Commission communication on a quality strategy for olive oil.

On 16 October 2002 the Management Committee for Oils and Fats approved an amendment to the
Regulation to bring the timing of introduction of its provisions into better line with the requirements of
producers and bottlers. To this end Article 12(2) is altered so that the Regulation applies from 1 November
2002 except that Articles 2, 3, 5 and 6 will not apply until 1 November 2003. This means that the
requirement to put oil in containers of capacity less than five litres labelled in line with the Regulation is
deferred until that date. In addition, oil marketed before 1 November 2003 can be sold until its ‘use by’
date.

As far as indication of origin on labels is concerned, Article 4 of the Regulation applies from 1 November
2002. It maintains the provisions introduced by Regulation (EC) No 2815/98 (2).

On oil sales in Italy, the figures for the last marketing year (2001/02) should be noted. Given domestic
olive oil production of 562 000 tonnes, domestic consumption of 735 000 tonnes and exports of
280 000 tonnes, Italian traders had to import 440 000 tonnes to meet demand on the internal and
external markets. Of this 400 000 tonnes came from Spain. The other 40 000 tonnes came from Tunisia
and had to meet the quality requirements set in the Community rules.

Under Regulation (EC) No 2815/98 and from 1 November 2002 Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1019/
2002 ‘Made in Italy’ may appear on the label only if the oil comes 25 % to 100 % from olives harvested in
Italy. If it comes less than 100 % from Italian olives this must be explicitly indicated.

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Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1019/2002 does not prohibit direct sales but, in order to guarantee oil
quality, help prevent fraudulent misrepresentation of blends and ensure that oil sold for consumption
meets health protection standards, all oil must be sold in containers of capacity less than five litres that are
fitted with a suitable closing system and labelled in line with the Regulation.

If a Member State so authorises restaurateurs can have access to hermetically sealed containers of more
than five litres.

Producers are under no obligation to sell to any category of operator whatsoever.

The Commission firmly believes that the quality of the oil that the producer furnishes must be safeguarded
until it reaches the consumer.

(1) OJ L 155, 14.6.2002.
(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2815/98 of 22 December 1998 concerning marketing standards for olive oil,

OJ L 349, 24.12.1998.

(2003/C 110 E/182)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3095/02

by María Valenciano Martínez-Orozco (PSE) to the Commission

(28 October 2002)

Subject: The Objective 2 programme for the Madrid region for 1997-1999

Can the Commission provide information on the outcome of the final report
for the Objective 2
programme for the Madrid region 1997-1999 and on the error detected by the Court of Auditors audit
carried out for the above period?

Can the Commission state whether it is aware of the Autonomous Community of Madrid having taken
steps to rectify the errors identified?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 2002)

In 2000, the Court of Auditors carried out an inspection of several measures part-financed by the
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the Objective 2 OP for Madrid (1997-99).

The conclusions of the Court’s report on measure 3.4 ‘Construction of and equipment for research and
development centres’ of this OP found that some expenditure on projects did not relate to research and
development (R & D) but to university education. Community rules do not permit the part-financing of
investment in education in areas eligible under Objective 2.

The national authorities, however, regarded all the projects included in the declarations of expenditure as
concerned with R & D.

To resolve this disagreement,
in agreement with the Commission, recently
appointed an independent expert to check on all the projects included in the measure and identify
investment relating to research and development.

the Spanish authorities,

The conclusions of this investigation will be sent to the Commission so that the amount of the expenditure
actually eligible for part-financing from the ERDF under this measure can be established.

The Commission is now awaiting this report.