Origin labelling for meat, in particular sheep meat
21.3.2014
Question for written answer E-003449-14
to the Commission
Rule 117
Nathalie Griesbeck (ALDE)
The recent European food scandals, including the fraudulent substitution of horsemeat for beef, have demonstrated the need for stricter rules on meat traceability and consumer information. It is therefore vital, in keeping with the spirit of the European Parliament resolution of 6 February 2014 relating to the indication of the country of origin or place of provenance for meat of swine, sheep, goats and poultry (P7_TA(2014)0096), that stricter rules be applied to these types of meat, including a mandatory labelling requirement for the places of birth, rearing and slaughter of the animal. This would merely entail bringing the regulations on swine, sheep, goats and poultry into line with those which already apply to beef.
With this in mind, I am particularly curious about the rules on sheep meat labelling laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1337/2013 of 13 December 2013. Following an impact study, the Commission decided that, given the potential costs of a uniform traceability system providing information on the place of birth of the animal, the label would only specify the country where the animal has been reared for a ‘period representing a substantial part of the normal cycle of rearing’ — six months in the case of sheep. This means that a sheep born outside the EU which then undergoes a six-month fattening period in the EU could be classed as European. This regulation does not provide consumers with sufficient information.
In this context:
- 1.Does the Commission believe that the current rules give EU consumers enough information?
- 2.Does the Commission plan to follow the extremely clear recommendation laid down by Parliament in its resolution of 6 February 2014 relating to the indication of the country of origin or place of provenance for meat of swine, sheep, goats and poultry (P7_TA(2014)0096)?
- 3.Does the Commission consequently plan to review its implementing regulation and to propose a version which includes a mandatory labelling requirement for the places of birth, rearing and slaughter for all types of meat? Please could it inform us of the timescale for completing this work?
OJ C 341, 30/09/2014