12. Mandatory indication of origin: challenges, opportunities and myths

“The question of origin indication is not a new issue. It has triggered heated discussions about practical implications for the single market, benefits and interest for consumers and operators, costs along the supply chain and trade.

Certain rules already exist in the EU, beyond the fact that it is mandatory to indicate the country of origin or place of provenance, if otherwise the consumer could be misled as to the true country of origin of the food. But specific mandatory origin provisions that have been developed are limited to certain products.  The report commissioned by the European Commission in 2015 suggested in its conclusion that a harmonised horizontal approach across Member States and covering all types of food products may not be appropriate. As a result, to address consumer demand for origin information on food, several EU countries have started setting rules at national level, often addressing products pertaining to national specificities. More recently, the EU Commission topped up existing EU rules by a new Regulation covering voluntary origin labelling and case law completed the picture.

As part of the Farm-to-Fork proposal aimed at empowering consumers to make informed, healthy and sustainable food choices, the Commission has included the proposal for an extension of mandatory origin or provenance indications to certain products, while fully taking into account impacts on the single market.

The event organised by the European Food Forum, according to its mission to foster dialogue and debate on food-related issues that matter, will encourage an open debate and diverse views around this topic. Representatives from the EU Commission, from Member States and from stakeholders across the chain will shed light on the opportunities and on the challenges associated with a possible extension of mandatory origin labelling to certain products.”