The European Commission has proposed updates to the marketing standards for various agri-food products, including fruit and vegetables, fruit juices, jams, honey, poultry, and eggs. These revisions aim to help consumers make informed choices for healthier diets and contribute to the prevention of food waste. This article discusses the proposed changes and their implications for the agri-food industry, with a focus on origin labelling, food waste, packaging, and product-specific adjustments.
Part I: Proposed Changes to EU Marketing Standards
- Origin Labelling
The European Commission is suggesting clearer, mandatory origin labelling rules for products like honey, nuts, dried fruits, ripened bananas, and processed fruit and vegetables. The labels would display the country or countries of origin, increasing transparency for consumers and promoting EU production.
- Addressing Food Waste and Packaging Waste
The proposed revisions tackle food waste by exempting locally sold, “ugly” fruit and vegetables from complying with marketing standards. This change would provide consumers with more opportunities to purchase fresh produce at lower prices and benefit producers involved in short supply chains. Additionally, products affected by natural disasters or exceptional circumstances could still be sold if deemed safe to consume.
- Packaging and Donations
To reduce red tape and encourage donations, products intended for donation may be exempt from main labelling requirements.
- Product-Specific Changes
The European Commission has put forth several product-specific proposals, such as allowing fruit juices to bear the mention “with no added sugars,” introducing the term “reduced-sugar fruit juice” for reformulated products, and increasing the fruit content of jams. Furthermore, the term “marmalade” would be permitted for all jams, and solar panels could be used in free-range production systems for eggs.
Part II: Implications of the Proposed Changes
- Improved Consumer Choices
The updated marketing standards would allow consumers to make more informed choices regarding their food purchases. Clearer origin labelling would give consumers insight into where their food comes from, and the revised product-specific regulations would enable healthier choices.
- Enhanced Sustainability
These proposed changes contribute to the EU’s sustainability goals by addressing food waste and promoting renewable energy sources. By exempting “ugly” produce from marketing standards and allowing solar panels in free-range production systems, the revisions support a more sustainable agri-food industry.
- Streamlined Donations
Exempting products intended for donation from main labelling requirements would facilitate operators’ engagement in donations, ultimately reducing food waste.
Part III: Next Steps and Future Outlook
- Legislative Process
The proposals for fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs, and poultry will be subject to public feedback for one month before being adopted and sent to the European Parliament and the Council for a scrutiny period of two months. The directives covering jams, marmalades, fruit juices, and honey will follow the ordinary co-legislative process.
- Expanding Marketing Standards
The European Commission is also considering adopting new marketing standards for cider, perry, and origin labelling of pulses, which are currently not covered by the Common Market Organisation Regulation.
Conclusion
The proposed changes to EU marketing standards for agri-food products demonstrate the European Commission’s commitment to meeting consumer demands and enhancing sustainability in the industry. By implementing these revisions, the EU can promote more informed choices, reduce food waste, and encourage healthier diets. The future outlook of these changes relies on their successful implementation and the potential expansion of marketing standards to other products in the agri-food sector.