Fourteen EU countries want new European labels on all food products indicating the origin of the ingredients. This responds to the growing consumer demand for locally produced food, and also strengthens the position of farmers in the food chain.
This call to the European Commission was made on Monday in Brussels by Germany and Austria, and was supported by Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, and Spain. The countries demand a legislative proposal from the European Commission for mandatory EU-wide 'origin labeling.'
In the EU, fresh vegetables and fruit, unprocessed eggs, packaged pork, lamb, goat meat, poultry, packaged and unpackaged beef must already indicate their origin. For fish and fishery products, the catch area must be stated. However, where the main ingredients of processed foods come from is nowadays almost impossible for consumers to determine.
Several EU countries have national 'obligations' for food product labeling in addition to the existing European rules. But so far, the member states have not agreed on what should or should not be included. Some also want a 'health advisory' on it, which others specifically do not want.
The Netherlands, together with a few other countries, has joined the (originally French) Nutriscore. Italy launched its own label last week because it believes the French label is detrimental to Mediterranean products with olive oil.
Recently in Belgium, livestock farmers launched a new label to promote meat from Belgian Blue cattle in the hospitality industry. To qualify for the label, the animal must have been born, raised, slaughtered, and butchered in Belgium. In addition, it must graze in the meadow from spring to autumn and remain in the same herd throughout its life.
The Dutch Consumers' Association advocates stricter rules. For example, it is not yet mandatory to state the origin of processed meat, such as marinated meat. Packaging sometimes contains vague information about where the food is produced.