Supply and emergency labelling issues caused by the war in Ukraine

11.3.2022

Priority question for written answer  P-000971/2022
to the Commission
Rule 138
Jordi Cañas (Renew)

The war in Ukraine is having serious consequences for all aspects of European economy. One such problem is a shortage of basic commodities. Sunflower oil shortages are a serious and immediate problem for the EU as Ukraine accounts for 90% of the EU’s sunflower oil imports[1].

Companies are looking for alternatives to sunflower oil but it is a complex process which involves modifying recipes as quickly as possible. This will potentially lead to an increase in the price of industrial confectioneries (pastries, biscuits, cakes, etc.) as the current framework on product labelling was not designed to respond to supply crises.

The EU requires the type of oil used in each product be indicated[2]. Companies will therefore find it very difficult to redesign and print hundreds of thousands of new labels for use across Europe, particularly as the oils used may be different within the same batch.

In light of the above:

• 1.What measures does the Commission intend to take to guarantee the supply of sunflower oil and other basic commodities in Europe, including if the war becomes prolonged?
• 2.What measures will the Commission take, on an exceptional, temporary and harmonised basis, to adapt information labelling to deal with this crisis? What precise mechanism is the Commission planning to relax the current regulation?[3]

• [1] ^{Eurostat-Comext 19 January 2022 https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/ecca07a5-5d56-47b1-a678-e24cceeb450c/oilseeds-trade-2017-18-marketing-year-July- December.pdf}
• [2] ^{Regulation No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers}
• [3] ^{E.g. Permanent stickers, overprinting labels, information on supermarket shelves.}