a
what was at stake
b
green position
c
what we achieved
d
what we did not achieve

Agricultural product quality schemes

Knowing precisely where your food comes from is already crucial, but knowing exactly what is on your plate is even more important, as the horsemeat scandal showed.

The many different types of food labelling in existence make it hard to determine where products originated.

The aim of the Resolution at issue here was to streamline previous legislation on the EU's three quality product labels (protected designation of origin, protected geographical indication, and traditional specialities guaranteed) into a single Regulation.

 

What was the Greens' position?

The Greens support local farming and direct sales labelling schemes, which identify and promote short food chains and direct producer-consumer relations through farmers' markets and other direct sales channels.

We are convinced that this approach yields the greatest benefits for human health and local economies and will also maximally reduce producers' carbon footprint.

 

Did other MEPs accept the Greens' position?

The Greens succeeded in gaining majority support for several amendments, managing to reserve a new optional term, "product of mountain origin", and commission a report on the term "product of island farming", to highlight the added value of products from these geographical locations as well as their traditional nature.

We also succeeded in requesting a report on a new local farming and direct sales scheme.

 

Which points did the Greens lose?

Opposition from the Council prevented the Greens from securing any supply-side management of quality produce by producer organisations.

We regret that the outcome of these negotiations leaves the way open for fast-tracking sales of third-country products bearing quality marks in the EU without the products in question having been made to comply with equivalent legislation.

Reference(s)
Committee:AGRI

Procedure:Ordinary legislative procedure

Reference(s):2010/0353(COD)

Lead MEP:Iratxe García-Pérez (S&D)

Green MEP responsible:Alyn Smith

Voted:13/09/2012

Staff contact:Daniel Wylie(Email)

Outcome of the vote
Below you find the results of the final vote in plenary. How did the political groups vote? What about national delegations? And what was the position of your MEP?