Actions against foie gras

19.12.2016

Question for written answer E-009581-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Norbert Erdős (PPE) , Csaba Sógor (PPE) , Anne Sander (PPE) , Virginie Rozière (S&D) , Michel Dantin (PPE) , Françoise Grossetête (PPE) , Michèle Alliot-Marie (PPE) , Cristian-Silviu Buşoi (PPE) , Andor Deli (PPE) , Angélique Delahaye (PPE) , Pál Csáky (PPE) , Tokia Saïfi (PPE) , Enrique Calvet Chambon (ALDE) , Franck Proust (PPE) , Viorica Dăncilă (S&D) , Brice Hortefeux (PPE) , Elisabeth Morin-Chartier (PPE) , Jean-Paul Denanot (S&D) , Constance Le Grip (PPE) , Norica Nicolai (ALDE) , György Schöpflin (PPE)

The European Union is the world’s largest producer and consumer of foie gras. This delicacy forms part of the European gastronomical heritage. As pointed out on several occasions by Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis, Commissioner for health and food safety, the production of foie gras is legal. Going beyond regulatory requirements, European foie gras producers have signed a European Charter on duck and goose products and are committed to an independent certification procedure.

Despite this, foie gras production is subject to recurrent attacks that are undermining the freedom to market and buy this product in Europe. In Great Britain, for instance, a restaurant owner in Fleggburgh was forced to remove foie gras from his establishment after receiving death threats. In Italy, a campaign is currently asking consumers to denounce supermarkets that sell foie gras. Certain economic players are giving in to these actions that sometimes endanger the survival of their establishments.

What is the Commission's view on these actions?

Does the Commission intend to regulate actions of this kind?