The European Parliament,

–   having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 980/2005 of 27 June 2005 applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences,

–   having regard to Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market,

–   having regard to Article IX and Article XXIV:5 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT 1994),

–   having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code and to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code, which sets out the European Community’s non-preferential rules of origin system,

–   having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 918/83 of 28 March 1983 setting up a Community system of reliefs from customs duty,

–   having regard to the proposal for a Council Regulation on the indication of the country of origin of certain products imported from third countries (2005/0254 (ACC)),

–   having regard to its resolution of 9 February 2009 on enhancing the role of European SMEs in international trade,

–    having regard to its resolution of 6 July 2006 on origin marking,

–   having regard to its written declaration of 11 December 2007 on origin marking of certain products imported from third countries,

–   having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas, at present, the EU does not have any harmonised provisions or uniform practices on origin marking in the EU; whereas disparities between regulations in force in the Member States as well as the absence of clear Community rules in this area are resulting in a fragmentary legal framework,

B.  whereas national measures imposing compulsory origin marking on goods imported from other Member States are prohibited, while there is no such limitation on compulsory origin marking on goods imported from third countries,

C. whereas a number of the EU’s major trading partners, such as the United States, China, Japan and Canada, have enacted mandatory origin-marking requirements,

D. whereas, in the Lisbon Agenda, the EU set itself the objective of strengthening the EU economy by, inter alia, improving the competitiveness of EU industry in the world economy; whereas competition is fair when it operates with clear rules for producers as well as for exporters and importers,

E.  whereas an origin marking scheme would have the aim of allowing EU consumers to be fully aware of the country of origin of the products they purchase; whereas consumers would thus be able to identify those products with the social, environmental and safety standards generally associated with that country,

F.  whereas the proposal for a Council regulation introducing a mandatory country of origin marking system for certain products imported from third countries into the European Union covers products such as textiles, jewellery, apparel, footwear, leather, lamps and light fittings, glassware, ceramics and handbags, for which the ‘made in’ requirement provides valuable information for final consumer choice,

G. whereas it is crucial to ensure a level playing field with the producers and consumers of our major partners which have implemented origin marking,

H. whereas the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December 2009 will put the Council and the European Parliament on an equal footing regarding this subject; whereas the ordinary legislative procedure under Article 207 of the Treaty of Lisbon will be applicable,

1.  Reiterates that consumer protection requires transparent and consistent trade rules including indications of origin;

2.  Calls on the Commission and the Council to take all necessary steps to ensure a level playing field with trading partners which have implemented origin-marking requirements;

3.  Calls on the Commission and the Council to set up proper customs surveillance and enforcement mechanisms;

4.  Urges Member States to maintain a consistent Community approach to this issue to enable EU consumers to receive more complete and accurate information;

5.  Encourages the Commission strongly to intervene, together with the Member States, to defend consumers’ legitimate rights and expectations whenever there is evidence of counterfeiting and/or fraudulent or misleading origin marking by non-EU producers and importers;

6.  Considers that, from 1 December 2009, under the ordinary legislative procedure set out in the Lisbon Treaty, consultation and exchanges of views between it and the Council should formally start and that any further delay would seriously damage citizens’ rights, the interests of social actors and the free market;

7.  Calls on the Commission to maintain its proposal unchanged and resubmit it to Parliament under Article 207 of the Treaty of Lisbon, immediately after that treaty enters into force;

8.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.