Greek fruits, soft drinks, or even clothing labeled «Made in the EU» rather than «Made in Greece»? A reasonable question that arises, as the debate has begun on how to label the origin of a wide range of products. Essentially, concerns are being raised about the expansion of unified origin labeling across the European Union and the corresponding weakening of production in member states.
The issue came to public attention during the farmers« protests in many countries across Europe, with Polish farmers and ranchers leading the way, under the slogan “We are Polish; we produce Polish products». Among their key demands, they stated that the country of origin should not be removed from their products and replaced with the label «Produced in the EU,» as this would harm both European consumers and the producers themselves, who benefit from the added value of the products they produce, whether they are food items or not. Their French colleagues are of the same mind; despite the tightening of labeling requirements for certain products, — wish to renationalize the rules regarding food labeling.
What's the deal?
For decades, the model adopted by many European countries was based on protecting domestic production, with various measures taken to promote local products by indicating their place of origin. However, to a certain extent, this model was dismantled with the creation of the single European market and the need for protectionism on a broader scale under a «European umbrella» against other major powers, such as China and the United States.
Of course, there were some exceptions, mainly concerning food products. More specifically, according to Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011: «Origin labeling is currently mandatory for beef and beef products in the Union following the bovine spongiform encephalopathy crisis, and has createdraised expectations among consumers». At the same time, honey, fruits and vegetables, fish, and olive oil fall under the same regulation but are subject to different criteria.
In fact, as far as honey is concerned, just a few days ago, the EU member states and the European Parliament agreed that, in the future, this product must clearly state its country of origin on the packaging label. Similar measures apply to milk, as current national legislation requires the origin of dairy products to be indicated. Specifically, all milk products (cheese, yogurt, butter, cream, and milk-based desserts) must indicate on their packaging the country of origin of the milk or «EU Origin,» if the milk comes from more than one Member State.
The Question at Hand
As explained by Apostolos Rautopoulos, president of the Greek Consumer Workers« Union (EEKE), Apostolos Rautopoulos, the key requirement is that the country of origin be specifically listed, rather than the EU in general. “This raises the question: «Where in the European Union; ? From Romania, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Belgium?;». There must be clear reporting, and at the same time, quality controls must be carried out,» he points out.
The picture is completely different for industrial goods, which include a vast range of products (from clothing and cars to furniture, household goods, and electronics). In this case, it appears that European legislation promotes the «Made in EU» label—especially for high-value products—against the backdrop of its international competitors.
George Fokianos – tanea.gr
