Protecting high-quality Italian agri-food products - call for Commission to make representations to the WHO and UN on discriminatory labels and information

Subject: Protecting high-quality Italian agri-food products - call for Commission to make representations to the WHO and UN on discriminatory labels and information

A UN General Assembly meeting on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, such as heart and lung diseases, cancer and diabetes, is due to be held on 27 September 2018. There will be a vote on a motion for a resolution which, in order to limit the onset of lifestyle-related diseases, aims to reduce the consumption of saturated fat, salt, sugars and alcohol by taxing agri-food products that are rich in sugars and fats, such as numerous ‘Made in Italy’ PDO/PGI products (amongst others, ‘Grana Padano’ and ‘Parmigiano Reggiano’ cheeses, Prosciutto di Parma [Parma ham] and extra virgin olive oil), and by introducing labels advising people not to consume them, putting these products on the same footing as cigarettes.

These measures, reminiscent of ‘traffic light’ labels, would provide incomplete and distorted information on the nutritional composition of foodstuffs, by penalising ‘geographical indication’ labelling and promoting the consumption of products made with chemical ingredients and additives; given that the high-quality products of the Mediterranean diet are recognised worldwide, including by the WHO, as healthy products, and given the importance of ensuring that consumers are provided with accurate information and of defending Italian and European producers, can the Commission answer the following questions:

1) Does it intend to combat, in every forum and every institution, the introduction of measures that tarnish the image of ‘Made in Italy’ agri-food products?

2) How does it intend to increase the protection of high-quality Italian and European PDO/PGI products from the continuous attempts to distort the market?

Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the European Commission (7 November 2018)

The Third High-Level Meeting on Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) of the United Nations General Assembly on 27 September 2018 adopted the political declaration: ‘Time to deliver: Accelerating our response to address NCDs for the health and well-being of present and future generations’ which sets out commitments to fight against NCD's.

1. To reduce diet-related NCDs, the Commission supports the promotion of healthy dietary patterns characterised by high consumption of fruits, vegetables and fish and by giving preference to low-fat dairy, whole grains, lean meat, poultry and vegetable oils as replacement of solid fats, and any diets following relevant dietary guidelines and nutrition recommendations.

There is an ongoing infringement procedure against the United Kingdom’s traffic light schemes; currently no indication can be given on the outcome.

2. Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications enjoy high levels of protection under Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 (1). The scheme is established in order to help producers of products linked to a geographical area by securing fair returns for the qualities of their products; ensuring uniform protection of the names as an intellectual property right in the territory of the Union (against, inter alia, any misuse, imitation or evocation); providing clear information on the attributes of the product to consumers.

The EU is also co-financing promotion programmes to increase consumers’ awareness of the Union quality schemes under Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 (2).

Remaining fully committed to achieving the best possible level of protection of geographical indications for future trade agreements, the EU strongly defends them in multilateral and bilateral negotiations.

⋅1∙ Regulation (EU) 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs,

OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.

⋅2∙ Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on information provision and promotion measures concerning

agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 3/2008, OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 56‐70. More information on the policy is available on the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency website https://ec.europa.eu/chafea/agri/.