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22 June 2016 - Mara Bizzotto – [E-005057-16] - Subject: Creation of a European catalogue of food and agricultural products from
the mountains:
The
system of designations of origin and geographical indications represents a vast
economic and cultural heritage for the safeguarding and development of Member
States' typical products.
In
this context, products from the mountains are a further demonstration of
quality and of the strong link between Italian and European excellence in
agriculture and in food and their place of origin. In 2014, the Commission
approved the optional quality term ‘mountain product’ (Delegated Regulation No
665/2014) obtained in mountain areas as defined by Regulation (EU) No
1305/2013, in a bid to enable mountain producers to boost and protect the
identity of their products, which — despite their added value — are not
protected by any specific quality term.
The
increase in food counterfeiting damages the market in products with a
designation of origin and misleads consumers, who are in fact calling for
greater transparency in the sector of typical products, and the specific nature
of food and agricultural production in mountain areas requires greater input by
producers as a result of the particular natural environment in which they
operate. In view of those facts, will the Commission create a European
catalogue of mountain products to protect and promote excellent products in the
mountain areas of Italy and the EU as a whole?
Answer
given by Mr Hogan on behalf of the Commission (17
August 2016):
«Optional quality term ‘mountain product’ was established
by Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 on quality schemes for agricultural
products and foodstuffs[1]. Its aim is to provide mountain producers with
an effective tool to better market their product and to reduce the actual risks
of consumer confusion as to the mountain provenance of products in the market
place. According to Article 34 of this regulation, Member States must
undertake checks, based on a risk analysis, to ensure compliance with the
related requirements. In this way Member States are enforcing the respect of
the rules and fighting counterfeiting practices.
Unlike geographical indications, the system of
optional quality terms does not provide for a registration procedure at EU
level. Hence, the Commission does not have a list of products using the
term ‘mountain product’. Member States are not required to inform the
Commission about the use of the term ‘mountain product’ on their territory
either. Taking into account that the responsibility for implementation is
conferred to the Member States, it is not envisaged that the Commission would
create a European catalogue of products using the term ‘mountain product’.
Labelling of agricultural and food products of
mountain farming in Europe was presented in a study[2] from
the year 2013 commissioned by the Commission.».
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