Minister advocates a label for organic products from EU

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Elena Espinosa has said that the new proposed regulations regarding the production and label of organic products have a positive focus on the definition of objectives and principles in the Council of Agriculture Ministers of the EU, but it is ambiguous and needs to be translated into many aspects before it can be accepted. Specifically, the Minister has indicated, will have to resolve those points that have resulted in conflicting and technical discussions that have been identified in the report prepared by the Chair. 

Elena Espinosa has expressed her desire soon to reach the necessary consensus, to encourage the development of this system of production and consumption of organic products, according to the aims pursued by the European Action Plan for Food and Farming.

In her speech, also she recalled that Spain has a long experience as far as production and has been rigorous in applying the standards that have been developed in the European Union, arguing for regulation and harmonization at the highest possible level to increase transparency of the system, establishing a fair competition between traders and to avoiding consumer confusion.

According to the Minister, we must not forget that for the market development is also necessary to ensure protection of consumer interests, ensuring confidence in them to stimulate demand for organic products and this is achieved with clear rules and a control system for effective control, so that future regulation should mean progress.

Elena Espinosa has defended the inclusion of the catering and restaurant in the scope of regulation, but subject to standards at EU level on the control, labeling and advertising of products offered by these establishments, in order to provide sufficient safeguards to avoid confusion and consumer fraud.

Also added that Spain has agreed to maintain compulsory logo for products produced or manufactured in the EU, which contain a minimum of 95 percent of organic agricultural ingredients, to promote a unique identification organic products and to facilitate its recognition by consumers of these products.

Finally, the Minister considered that there must be a difference in terms of products imported from third countries, not to mislead consumers regarding the true origin of the products. For this reason we propose the following alternative wording: "EU-ORGANIC ', or simply," Organic Production."