Seafood labelling fraud

30.11.2015

Question for written answer E-015190-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Marc Tarabella (S&D)

On 3 November 2015, after having carried out DNA analyses, the organisation Oceana published a press release on labelling fraud in relation to seafood. According to the organisation, around 30% of seafood products served in restaurants in Brussels do not correspond to the species ordered by the consumers. The investigation was carried out in more than 150 restaurants and within the EU institutions. The samples were collected between March and June 2015.

In May 2014 (see the Commission’s answer to Question E-003081/14), the European Commission stated that it was in the process of analysing the detection methods available as part of official controls before reaching a decision on the need to take additional measures, for example in the form of coordinated control plans, in accordance with Article 53 of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004.

Could the Commission state whether measures will be taken to combat seafood labelling fraud and, if so, what those measures will be?