EU - Food and drink: Commission proposes actions to get the most out of marketing and quality schemes

Action is needed to improve communication about the qualities of agricultural products — to help reconnect farmers with consumers. Quality labelling schemes must also be easier for people to use and understand and EU policy must be more coherent. These are the main recommendations of a European Commission Communication on agricultural product quality policy.

In the Communication the Commission proposes in particular to:
• Extend labelling that identifies the place where agricultural product was farmed;
• Examine the feasibility of laying down specific optional reserved terms for 'product of mountain farming' and 'traditional product'. The latter could replace the current 'traditional specialities guaranteed' scheme.
• Create a unique register for all geographical indications (for wines, spirits and agricultural products and foodstuffs) while preserving the specificities of each system.
• Improve the single market for products under labelling schemes, particularly for organic products.
• Improve international protection of geographical indications and contribute to the development of international standards for marketing standards and organic product.
• Develop 'good practice' guidelines for private certification schemes to reduce potential for consumer confusion and to reduce red-tape for farmers.