14 Amendments of Frédérique RIES related to 2023/0105(COD)
Amendment 40 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In light of the close link between the quality of honey and its origin and the need for the consumer not to be misled regarding the quality of the product, Directive 2001/110/EC lays down rules on the labelling of the origin where the honey has been harvested. In particular, Article 2(4) of that Directive requires the country or countries of origin where the honey has been harvested to be indicated on the label and provides that, if honey originates in more than one Member State or third country, the mandatory indication of the countries of origin may be replaced by one of the following, as appropriate: ‘blend of EU honeys’, ‘blend of non-EU honeys’, ‘blend of EU and non-EU honeys’. The different rules adopted on this basis by Member States may have misled consumers and may have hindered the functioning of the internal market. In the light of the Farm to Fork Strategy’s objective of strengthening consumers in making informed choices, including on the origin of their food, and in the interest to preserve the efficient functioning of the internal market throughout the Union through a harmonisation of the labelling rules, it is appropriate to revise the rules for honey origin labelling and provide that the country or countries of origin should be mentioned on the packaging. In light of the reduced size of the packs containing only a single portion of honey (breakfast packs) and the resulting technical difficulties, it is therefore appropriate to exempt those packs from the obligation of listing all individual countries of origin, where the honey originates in more than one country. To ensure the accuracy of the information on the country or countries of origin of honey that consumers are provided with, the placing on the market of honey should be conditional upon the accuracy of the composition of the product with its indicated country or countries of origin. To ensure the compliance of products with the requirements set out in this Directive, checks should be performed by competent authorities.
Amendment 42 #
(3) In light of the close link between the quality of honey and its origin and the need for the consumer not to be misled regarding the quality of the product, Directive 2001/110/EC lays down rules on the labelling of the origin where the honey has been harvested. In particular, Article 2(4) of that Directive requires the country or countries of origin where the honey has been harvested to be indicated on the label and provides that, if honey originates in more than one Member State or third country, the mandatory indication of the countries of origin may be replaced by one of the following, as appropriate: ‘blend of EU honeys’, ‘blend of non-EU honeys’, ‘blend of EU and non-EU honeys’. The different rules adopted on this basis by Member States may have misled consumers and may have hindered the functioning of the internal market. In the light of the Farm to Fork Strategy’s objective of strengthening consumers in making informed choices, including on the origin of their food, and in the interest to preserve the efficient functioning of the internal market throughout the Union through a harmonisation of the labelling rules, it is appropriate to revise the rules for honey origin labelling and provide that the country or countries of origin should be mentioned on the packaging. In light of the reduced size of the packs containing only a single portion of honey (breakfast packs) and the resulting technical difficulties, it is therefore appropriate to exempt those packs from the obligation of listing all individual countries of origin, where the honey originates in more than one country.
Amendment 52 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) Following the "From the Hive" action carried out by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), together with the national authorities of 18 countries belonging to the European Food Fraud Network, the European Anti- Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), a very high percentage of imported honeys were found to be adulterated with cheap ingredients, such as sugar syrups and water, to artificially increase the product's volume. Directive 2001/110, amended by Directive 2014/63, empowers the European Commission to establish the most appropriate methods of analysis to ensure that honey marketed in the European Union complies with the requirements of the legislation. These methods are now obsolete, and there is an urgent need to update them regularly in the light of the latest scientific developments, in collaboration with the Commission's Joint Research Centre, in order to prevent fraudulent practices and to ensure a level-playing field between EU and non-EU operators.
Amendment 63 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 b (new)
Recital 3 b (new)
(3b) In addition to verifiability of the origin of honey thanks to the testing of its composition, the traceability of the product or batch should be ensured. At present, traceability rules do not make it possible to link the various operators who come into contact with the product, which encourages fraud. Given the difficulties involved in tracing the origin of honey, a specific traceability system needs to be set up for this sector.
Amendment 69 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 c (new)
Recital 3 c (new)
(3c) To ensure accurate information for consumers and guarantee the traceability and verifiability of honey authenticity and honey origins, ultrafiltered honey, referred to in Directive 2001/110/EC as "filtered honey", should no longer be allowed to be marketed and labelled as "honey". Ultrafiltration refers to filtration processes using a filter mesh of a size under 100 µm thus removing the majority of the pollen from honey. Since pollen is the key element present in honey used to trace its origin when analysed, the absence of pollen in honey makes it almost impossible to verify the data provided regarding its country or countries of origin. Ultrafiltration thus alters honey by depriving it of one of its main components and characteristics, and prevents its traceability, thus enabling for fraud and misleading indications for consumers. If, when tested, a product marketed as honey presents little or no trace of pollen, it should be prohibited from being placed on the market as well as the batch it is part of, if applicable.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 d (new)
Recital 3 d (new)
(3d) Considering the direct link between information of consumers and the reliability of the information indicated on honey, it is impossible to inform consumers unless the accuracy of the information on the label is guaranteed. Traceability and verifiability of the composition should therefore be ensured in order to guarantee the origin and the quality of honey, including in the case of honey contained in other products. Ensuring traceability and verifiability of the honey's country or countries of origin will also ensure a level-playing field between all operators by making sure that they all comply with the same obligations.
Amendment 148 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point a
(a) The country of origin where the honey has been harvested shall be indicated on the label. If the honey originates infrom more than one country, the countries of origin where the honey has been harvested shall be indicated on the label of packs; If the honey has been harvested in third countaining more than 25 g;ries only, or if third countries account for at least 80% of the countries of origin of a blend, this information shall be indicated clearly on the front-of-pack label close to the brand name of the product. This indication is additional to the mandatory list of countries of origin provided for in this Article. This shall also apply to products containing industrial honey, which shall indicate on their front-of-pack label that the honey they contain is mainly originating from third countries.
Amendment 176 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point b
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point b
(b) For the purposes of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 and in particular Articles 12 to 15 thereof, the particulars to be indicated according to point (a) of this paragraph shall be considered as mandatory particulars in accordance with Article 9 of that Regulation., and misleading claims and information as defined pursuant to the Green Claims Directive (2023/0085 (COD)) and the Directive on empowering consumers for the green transition (2022/0092 (COD)) shall be prohibited from appearing on the product.
Amendment 177 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
The following Article 2a is added : "Article 2a Honey and products containing honey placed on the Union market shall be part of a traceability system such as an identification code or a blockchain system. Competent authorities shall be able to trace the honey’s journey back to its country of origin. Operators placing honey and products containing honey on the market shall be able to trace it, via an identification number or blockchain system, to its previous operator and country of origin. This number shall be written on the product's label and/or documentation. This traceability system shall be supported by the traceability requirements established pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002."
Amendment 193 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 4 a (new)
Article 4 a (new)
The following Article 4a is added: "Article 4a After [OP: Please insert the date = 12 months after the date of entry into force of this directive] the Commission shall adopt delegated act establishing a harmonised methodology to ascertain honey authenticity based on the Commission's Joint Research Centre analytical methods. This methodology shall enable competent authorities to detect low and intermediate levels of adulterations with high sensitivity."
Amendment 194 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 4 a (new)
Article 4 a (new)
Amendment 210 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
In Annex II, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: "When placed on the market as honey or used in any product intended for human consumption, honey shall not have added to it any food ingredient, including food additives, nor shall any other additions be made other than honey. Honey must, as far as possible, be free from organic or inorganic matters foreign to its composition. With the exception of point 3 of Annex I, iIt must not have any foreign tastes or odours, have begun to ferment, have an artificially changed acidity or have been heated in such a way that the natural enzymes have been either destroyed or significantly inactivated. , or have been exposed to vacuum evaporation. The category "products containing honey" therefore does not include honey blended with food ingredients or other additional ingredients." Or. en (02001L0110)
Amendment 218 #
Amendment 272 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a Directive 2001/112/EC
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a Directive 2001/112/EC
By [OP: Please insert the date = date of entry into force of this Directive], the list of essential physical, chemical, organoleptical and nutritional characteristics of an average type of juice, other than the sugar of the fruit from which it comes, shall be established by the European Food Safety Agency.