BETA


2005/0270(CNS) Agricultural products and foodstuffs: traditional specialities guaranteed (repeal. Regulation (EEC) No 2082/92)

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AGRI GRAEFE ZU BARINGDORF Friedrich-Wilhelm (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE)
Committee Opinion IMCO
Committee Opinion INTA
Committee Opinion ENVI
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
EC Treaty (after Amsterdam) EC 037

Events

2006/04/19
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2006/03/31
   Final act published in Official Journal
Details

PURPOSE: to lay down the rules for the recognition of a “traditional speciality guaranteed” (TSG) food product of foodstuff.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation 509/2006/EC on agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialities guaranteed.

CONTENT: in adopting this Regulation the EU has repealed Regulation 2082/92/EC, which previously governed provisions relating to the recognition and protection of traditional agricultural products and foodstuffs with special characteristics.

Legislation in this field has been prepared in recognition of the fact that the promotion of traditional products with specific characteristics could be of considerable benefit to the rural economy, particularly in less-favoured or remote areas. In order to guarantee the smooth running of the EU’s internal market economic operators must have recourse to provisions which allow them to enhance the market value of the products, whilst at the same time allowing a high level of protection for consumers of such products. One of the main purposes of this Regulation is to provide consumers with clear and succinct information regarding the specific characteristics of these foodstuffs. In addition, the Regulation offers clearer definitions. For example, the term “certificate of specific character” has been abandoned in favour of “traditional speciality guaranteed” (TSG). Further, the current Regulation defines the terms “specific character” and “traditional”. Clarification of these terms should make it easier for producers and consumers to understand the conditions of being granted a TSG label. Products have been classified as either “agricultural products intended for human consumption” (such as beer, soups, confectionaries etc) or foodstuffs. Both are listed in Annex to the Regulation.

A number of procedures have been set out regarding the inspection of products seeking a TSG label. The Regulation requires that groups of producers should, voluntarily, define specific characteristics in a product application. The option of registering a TSG has been made available to third-country producers. EU TSG registration will be subject to control arrangements based on Regulation 883/2004/EC governing “official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules”. Operators must also comply with provisions relating to product specification before marketing agricultural products and foodstuffs.

In order to qualify for protection, producers must, as a first step, register their application at a Community level. Entry in a register will provide information to both traders and consumers. The information will then be passed on to the national authorities concerned, who in turn will scrutinise each application. There will be a possibility to object should a third party deem the application to be of neither a “traditional” nor of a “specific characteristic” nature. Subsequently the Commission , for the purpose of uniformity, will scrutinise the application further.

The right to object will be granted to citizens of third countries with a legitimate interest, under the same criteria. The criteria will be evaluated in relation to the territory of the Community. Further, in order to avoid creating unfair conditions of competition, any producer, including third-country producers, should be able to use either a registered name together with a particular indication and, where appropriate, the Community symbol associated with the indication “traditional specialities guaranteed” or a registered name.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 19 April 2006.

2006/03/20
   EP/CSL - Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
2006/03/20
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2006/03/20
   CSL - Council Meeting
2006/03/16
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2006/03/16
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Friedrich-Wilhelm GRAEFE zu BARINGDORF (Greens/EFA, DE) and made some amendments to the Commission’s proposal on traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) agricultural products. (Please see the summary dated 21/02/2006.)

Documents
2006/03/15
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2006/02/23
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
Documents
2006/02/23
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
Documents
2006/02/21
   EP - Vote in committee
Details

The committee adopted the report by Friedrich-Wilhelm GRAEFE zu BARINGDORF (Greens/EFA, DE) broadly approving the proposed regulation on traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) agricultural products, subject to a few amendments under the consultation procedure:

- with regard to the extension of the regulation's scope to cover products from third countries, the committee said that, to ensure that there is no confusion in consumers' minds between the Community symbol and the origin of the product, the place of origin and the place of processing of each registered TSG product should be "clearly and visibly" indicated on the label;

- the proposed definition of "traditional" should be amended so as to mean "a product which has proven specific characteristics which distinguish it from other similar products in the same category and which has been used on the market since before the Second World War", which is regarded worldwide as a landmark period;

- the Commission's register of TGS products should be published on the Internet so as to make it easily accessible to consumers and producers;

- the names to be used in registering TSG products must not, under any circumstances, include names which have already been registered as products of designated origin (PDOs) or products of geographical indication (PGIs), which are the subject of a separate regulation (see factfile CNS/2005/0275);

- the committee laid down specific deadlines for various stages of the registration procedure, to avoid unnecessary delays;

-

2006/02/06
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2006/02/01
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2006/01/23
   CSL - Debate in Council
Details

The Council took note of the two proposals on agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialities guaranteed (TSG) and on the protection of geographical indications (GI) and designations of origin (DO) for agricultural products and foodstuffs.

The Council invited the Special Committee on Agriculture to continue its examination of those proposals with a view to reaching agreement at a forthcoming Council meeting, taking into account the deadline of 3 April set in the context of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for implementation of the Panel.

Documents
2006/01/23
   CSL - Council Meeting
2006/01/10
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2005/12/23
   EC - Legislative proposal
Details

PURPOSE: to simplify the procedures for registering an agricultural product or foodstuff with specific characteristics and to bring the provisions in line with WTO requirements.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

CONTENT: Council Regulation 2082/92/EC on “certificates of specific character for agricultural products and foodstuffs” allows for the recognition and protection of traditional agricultural products and foodstuffs with specific characteristics. The “specific character” refers to their production method but not to their geographical origin. Since the creation of the scheme in July 1993, fifteen agricultural products and foodstuffs have been registered – many with a high economic value. Further, the Commission has received 18 further applications for registration from various Member States. The application of Regulation 2982/92 has allowed producers to benefit from the market value of their special products, set up a fair trade system and has protected consumers from abusive practices.

However, it has now become necessary to guarantee producers outside of the EU the same registration benefits as those enjoyed by producers within the EU. In addition producers from WTO member countries, with a legitimate interest, should be given the possibility to object to a certain registration. Further, under the clause relating to national treatment, producers outside of the EU should be in a position to use product specifications registered as traditional specialities guaranteed in the same way as producers from the EU Member States. As such, this proposal seeks to introduce provisions which guarantee the applicability of existing intellectual property rights such as trade marks and geographical indications.

On a second level, the proposal seeks to simplify and clarify the procedures involved in registering an agricultural product of foodstuff with special characteristics by illustrating the responsibilities of the various authorities involved in product registration. The Commission proposes that rather than relying on the current “two-stage” procedure, product specification in stricto sensu , should by-pass the national level and be sent straight to the Community level. The national authorities would retain responsibility for evaluating the traditional and specific characteristics of the products concerned. For the sake of transparency, the Commission will publish any details of an application in the Official Journal of the European Union in order to allow those interested, if necessary, to object to an application for registration.

In other measures, the Commission has tried to make a number of simplifications and clarification based on past experience – particularly in the case of definitions. For example, the term “traditional” was not defined in Regulation 2982/92, which the current proposal tries to do. Inconsistencies have been ironed out such as the length of time it takes for objections to be made in cases where a specification has been amended. Further, and where appropriate, system improvements have been made identical to those proposed for the system to protect geographical indications and designation of origin. This refers, in particular to control arrangements, registration and objection procedures, the obligatory reference to “traditional speciality guaranteed”, to the Community logo on product labelling and to a possible recourse to the Management Committee for matters relating to applications for registration.

The proposed measures do not impact upon the general budget of the European Communities.

2005/12/22
   EC - Legislative proposal published
Details

PURPOSE: to simplify the procedures for registering an agricultural product or foodstuff with specific characteristics and to bring the provisions in line with WTO requirements.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

CONTENT: Council Regulation 2082/92/EC on “certificates of specific character for agricultural products and foodstuffs” allows for the recognition and protection of traditional agricultural products and foodstuffs with specific characteristics. The “specific character” refers to their production method but not to their geographical origin. Since the creation of the scheme in July 1993, fifteen agricultural products and foodstuffs have been registered – many with a high economic value. Further, the Commission has received 18 further applications for registration from various Member States. The application of Regulation 2982/92 has allowed producers to benefit from the market value of their special products, set up a fair trade system and has protected consumers from abusive practices.

However, it has now become necessary to guarantee producers outside of the EU the same registration benefits as those enjoyed by producers within the EU. In addition producers from WTO member countries, with a legitimate interest, should be given the possibility to object to a certain registration. Further, under the clause relating to national treatment, producers outside of the EU should be in a position to use product specifications registered as traditional specialities guaranteed in the same way as producers from the EU Member States. As such, this proposal seeks to introduce provisions which guarantee the applicability of existing intellectual property rights such as trade marks and geographical indications.

On a second level, the proposal seeks to simplify and clarify the procedures involved in registering an agricultural product of foodstuff with special characteristics by illustrating the responsibilities of the various authorities involved in product registration. The Commission proposes that rather than relying on the current “two-stage” procedure, product specification in stricto sensu , should by-pass the national level and be sent straight to the Community level. The national authorities would retain responsibility for evaluating the traditional and specific characteristics of the products concerned. For the sake of transparency, the Commission will publish any details of an application in the Official Journal of the European Union in order to allow those interested, if necessary, to object to an application for registration.

In other measures, the Commission has tried to make a number of simplifications and clarification based on past experience – particularly in the case of definitions. For example, the term “traditional” was not defined in Regulation 2982/92, which the current proposal tries to do. Inconsistencies have been ironed out such as the length of time it takes for objections to be made in cases where a specification has been amended. Further, and where appropriate, system improvements have been made identical to those proposed for the system to protect geographical indications and designation of origin. This refers, in particular to control arrangements, registration and objection procedures, the obligatory reference to “traditional speciality guaranteed”, to the Community logo on product labelling and to a possible recourse to the Management Committee for matters relating to applications for registration.

The proposed measures do not impact upon the general budget of the European Communities.

2005/11/23
   EP - GRAEFE ZU BARINGDORF Friedrich-Wilhelm (Verts/ALE) appointed as rapporteur in AGRI

Documents

Activities

Votes

Rapport Graefe Zu Baringdorf A6-0033/2006 - résolution #

2006/03/16 Outcome: +: 538, -: 15, 0: 7
DE FR PL GB IT ES NL BE PT EL HU AT FI CZ SK IE SE LV DK SI LT CY LU EE MT
Total
89
67
50
53
34
29
23
21
21
19
18
14
12
19
12
10
16
9
12
7
6
6
5
4
4
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
199

Austria PPE-DE

3

Denmark PPE-DE

For (1)

1
2

Luxembourg PPE-DE

3

Estonia PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE-DE

For (1)

1
icon: PSE PSE
155

Czechia PSE

For (1)

1

Slovakia PSE

2

Ireland PSE

1

Slovenia PSE

For (1)

1

Lithuania PSE

For (1)

1

Estonia PSE

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
65

Spain ALDE

1

Hungary ALDE

1

Austria ALDE

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Sweden ALDE

1

Latvia ALDE

1
4

Slovenia ALDE

2

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
39

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

4

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
27

United Kingdom NI

Against (1)

3

Austria NI

2

Czechia NI

1

Slovakia NI

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
30

France GUE/NGL

2

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Spain GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Greece GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

2

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
icon: UEN UEN
19

Italy UEN

2

Ireland UEN

3

Denmark UEN

For (1)

1
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
26

France IND/DEM

2

Italy IND/DEM

2

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Greece IND/DEM

1

Czechia IND/DEM

1

Ireland IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Sweden IND/DEM

3

Denmark IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

docs/0
date
2005-12-23T00:00:00
docs
summary
type
Legislative proposal
body
EC
events/0/date
Old
2005-12-23T00:00:00
New
2005-12-22T00:00:00
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE367.689
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=PE367.689
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE368.039
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=PE368.039
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2006-0033_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2006-0033_EN.html
docs/3/docs/0/url
/oeil/spdoc.do?i=4519&j=0&l=en
events/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2005/0694/COM_COM(2005)0694_EN.pdf
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2005/0694/COM_COM(2005)0694_EN.pdf
events/2/type
Old
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
New
Committee referral announced in Parliament
events/3/type
Old
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
New
Vote in committee
events/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2006-0033_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2006-0033_EN.html
events/5/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20060315&type=CRE
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=20060315&type=CRE
events/7
date
2006-03-16T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2006-0094_EN.html title: T6-0094/2006
summary
The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Friedrich-Wilhelm GRAEFE zu BARINGDORF (Greens/EFA, DE) and made some amendments to the Commission’s proposal on traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) agricultural products. (Please see the summary dated 21/02/2006.)
events/7
date
2006-03-16T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2006-0094_EN.html title: T6-0094/2006
summary
The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Friedrich-Wilhelm GRAEFE zu BARINGDORF (Greens/EFA, DE) and made some amendments to the Commission’s proposal on traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) agricultural products. (Please see the summary dated 21/02/2006.)
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Agriculture and Rural Development
committee
AGRI
rapporteur
name: GRAEFE ZU BARINGDORF Friedrich-Wilhelm date: 2005-11-23T00:00:00 group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Agriculture and Rural Development
committee
AGRI
date
2005-11-23T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: GRAEFE ZU BARINGDORF Friedrich-Wilhelm group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2006-33&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2006-0033_EN.html
docs/3/body
EC
events/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2006-33&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2006-0033_EN.html
events/7/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2006-94
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2006-0094_EN.html
activities
  • date: 2005-12-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2005/0694/COM_COM(2005)0694_EN.pdf title: COM(2005)0694 type: Legislative proposal published celexid: CELEX:52005PC0694:EN body: EC commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/agriculture/ title: Agriculture and Rural Development type: Legislative proposal published
  • body: CSL meeting_id: 2703 docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=SMPL&ROWSPP=25&RESULTSET=1&NRROWS=500&DOC_LANCD=EN&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC&CONTENTS=2703*&MEET_DATE=23/01/2006 type: Debate in Council title: 2703 council: General Affairs date: 2006-01-23T00:00:00 type: Council Meeting
  • date: 2006-02-01T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AGRI date: 2005-11-23T00:00:00 committee_full: Agriculture and Rural Development rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: GRAEFE ZU BARINGDORF Friedrich-Wilhelm body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee: IMCO body: EP responsible: False committee_full: International Trade committee: INTA
  • date: 2006-02-21T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AGRI date: 2005-11-23T00:00:00 committee_full: Agriculture and Rural Development rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: GRAEFE ZU BARINGDORF Friedrich-Wilhelm body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee: IMCO body: EP responsible: False committee_full: International Trade committee: INTA type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2006-02-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2006-33&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading title: A6-0033/2006 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AGRI date: 2005-11-23T00:00:00 committee_full: Agriculture and Rural Development rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: GRAEFE ZU BARINGDORF Friedrich-Wilhelm body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee: IMCO body: EP responsible: False committee_full: International Trade committee: INTA type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2006-03-15T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20060315&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2006-03-16T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=4519&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2006-94 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0094/2006 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2006-03-20T00:00:00 body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Agriculture and Fisheries meeting_id: 2720
  • date: 2006-03-20T00:00:00 body: EP type: End of procedure in Parliament
  • date: 2006-03-20T00:00:00 body: EP/CSL type: Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
  • date: 2006-03-31T00:00:00 type: Final act published in Official Journal docs: url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32006R0509 title: Regulation 2006/509 url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2006:093:TOC title: OJ L 093 31.03.2006, p. 0001-0011
commission
  • body: EC dg: Agriculture and Rural Development commissioner: --
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Agriculture and Rural Development
committee
AGRI
date
2005-11-23T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: GRAEFE ZU BARINGDORF Friedrich-Wilhelm group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
committees/0
body
EP
responsible
True
committee
AGRI
date
2005-11-23T00:00:00
committee_full
Agriculture and Rural Development
rapporteur
group: Verts/ALE name: GRAEFE ZU BARINGDORF Friedrich-Wilhelm
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
International Trade
committee
INTA
opinion
False
committees/1
body
EP
responsible
False
committee_full
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
committee
ENVI
committees/2
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
committee
ENVI
opinion
False
committees/2
body
EP
responsible
False
committee_full
Internal Market and Consumer Protection
committee
IMCO
committees/3
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Internal Market and Consumer Protection
committee
IMCO
opinion
False
committees/3
body
EP
responsible
False
committee_full
International Trade
committee
INTA
council
  • body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Agriculture and Fisheries meeting_id: 2720 url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=SMPL&ROWSPP=25&RESULTSET=1&NRROWS=500&DOC_LANCD=EN&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC&CONTENTS=2720*&MEET_DATE=20/03/2006 date: 2006-03-20T00:00:00
  • body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: General Affairs meeting_id: 2703 url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=SMPL&ROWSPP=25&RESULTSET=1&NRROWS=500&DOC_LANCD=EN&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC&CONTENTS=2703*&MEET_DATE=23/01/2006 date: 2006-01-23T00:00:00
docs
  • date: 2006-01-10T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE367.689 title: PE367.689 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2006-02-06T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE368.039 title: PE368.039 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2006-02-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2006-33&language=EN title: A6-0033/2006 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2006-04-19T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=4519&j=0&l=en title: SP(2006)1725 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
events
  • date: 2005-12-23T00:00:00 type: Legislative proposal published body: EC docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2005/0694/COM_COM(2005)0694_EN.pdf title: COM(2005)0694 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2005&nu_doc=694 title: EUR-Lex summary: PURPOSE: to simplify the procedures for registering an agricultural product or foodstuff with specific characteristics and to bring the provisions in line with WTO requirements. PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation. CONTENT: Council Regulation 2082/92/EC on “certificates of specific character for agricultural products and foodstuffs” allows for the recognition and protection of traditional agricultural products and foodstuffs with specific characteristics. The “specific character” refers to their production method but not to their geographical origin. Since the creation of the scheme in July 1993, fifteen agricultural products and foodstuffs have been registered – many with a high economic value. Further, the Commission has received 18 further applications for registration from various Member States. The application of Regulation 2982/92 has allowed producers to benefit from the market value of their special products, set up a fair trade system and has protected consumers from abusive practices. However, it has now become necessary to guarantee producers outside of the EU the same registration benefits as those enjoyed by producers within the EU. In addition producers from WTO member countries, with a legitimate interest, should be given the possibility to object to a certain registration. Further, under the clause relating to national treatment, producers outside of the EU should be in a position to use product specifications registered as traditional specialities guaranteed in the same way as producers from the EU Member States. As such, this proposal seeks to introduce provisions which guarantee the applicability of existing intellectual property rights such as trade marks and geographical indications. On a second level, the proposal seeks to simplify and clarify the procedures involved in registering an agricultural product of foodstuff with special characteristics by illustrating the responsibilities of the various authorities involved in product registration. The Commission proposes that rather than relying on the current “two-stage” procedure, product specification in stricto sensu , should by-pass the national level and be sent straight to the Community level. The national authorities would retain responsibility for evaluating the traditional and specific characteristics of the products concerned. For the sake of transparency, the Commission will publish any details of an application in the Official Journal of the European Union in order to allow those interested, if necessary, to object to an application for registration. In other measures, the Commission has tried to make a number of simplifications and clarification based on past experience – particularly in the case of definitions. For example, the term “traditional” was not defined in Regulation 2982/92, which the current proposal tries to do. Inconsistencies have been ironed out such as the length of time it takes for objections to be made in cases where a specification has been amended. Further, and where appropriate, system improvements have been made identical to those proposed for the system to protect geographical indications and designation of origin. This refers, in particular to control arrangements, registration and objection procedures, the obligatory reference to “traditional speciality guaranteed”, to the Community logo on product labelling and to a possible recourse to the Management Committee for matters relating to applications for registration. The proposed measures do not impact upon the general budget of the European Communities.
  • date: 2006-01-23T00:00:00 type: Debate in Council body: CSL docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=SMPL&ROWSPP=25&RESULTSET=1&NRROWS=500&DOC_LANCD=EN&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC&CONTENTS=2703*&MEET_DATE=23/01/2006 title: 2703 summary: The Council took note of the two proposals on agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialities guaranteed (TSG) and on the protection of geographical indications (GI) and designations of origin (DO) for agricultural products and foodstuffs. The Council invited the Special Committee on Agriculture to continue its examination of those proposals with a view to reaching agreement at a forthcoming Council meeting, taking into account the deadline of 3 April set in the context of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for implementation of the Panel.
  • date: 2006-02-01T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2006-02-21T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP summary: The committee adopted the report by Friedrich-Wilhelm GRAEFE zu BARINGDORF (Greens/EFA, DE) broadly approving the proposed regulation on traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) agricultural products, subject to a few amendments under the consultation procedure: - with regard to the extension of the regulation's scope to cover products from third countries, the committee said that, to ensure that there is no confusion in consumers' minds between the Community symbol and the origin of the product, the place of origin and the place of processing of each registered TSG product should be "clearly and visibly" indicated on the label; - the proposed definition of "traditional" should be amended so as to mean "a product which has proven specific characteristics which distinguish it from other similar products in the same category and which has been used on the market since before the Second World War", which is regarded worldwide as a landmark period; - the Commission's register of TGS products should be published on the Internet so as to make it easily accessible to consumers and producers; - the names to be used in registering TSG products must not, under any circumstances, include names which have already been registered as products of designated origin (PDOs) or products of geographical indication (PGIs), which are the subject of a separate regulation (see factfile CNS/2005/0275); - the committee laid down specific deadlines for various stages of the registration procedure, to avoid unnecessary delays; -
  • date: 2006-02-23T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2006-33&language=EN title: A6-0033/2006
  • date: 2006-03-15T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20060315&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2006-03-16T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=4519&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2006-03-16T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2006-94 title: T6-0094/2006 summary: The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Friedrich-Wilhelm GRAEFE zu BARINGDORF (Greens/EFA, DE) and made some amendments to the Commission’s proposal on traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) agricultural products. (Please see the summary dated 21/02/2006.)
  • date: 2006-03-20T00:00:00 type: Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament body: EP/CSL
  • date: 2006-03-20T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
  • date: 2006-03-31T00:00:00 type: Final act published in Official Journal summary: PURPOSE: to lay down the rules for the recognition of a “traditional speciality guaranteed” (TSG) food product of foodstuff. LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation 509/2006/EC on agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialities guaranteed. CONTENT: in adopting this Regulation the EU has repealed Regulation 2082/92/EC, which previously governed provisions relating to the recognition and protection of traditional agricultural products and foodstuffs with special characteristics. Legislation in this field has been prepared in recognition of the fact that the promotion of traditional products with specific characteristics could be of considerable benefit to the rural economy, particularly in less-favoured or remote areas. In order to guarantee the smooth running of the EU’s internal market economic operators must have recourse to provisions which allow them to enhance the market value of the products, whilst at the same time allowing a high level of protection for consumers of such products. One of the main purposes of this Regulation is to provide consumers with clear and succinct information regarding the specific characteristics of these foodstuffs. In addition, the Regulation offers clearer definitions. For example, the term “certificate of specific character” has been abandoned in favour of “traditional speciality guaranteed” (TSG). Further, the current Regulation defines the terms “specific character” and “traditional”. Clarification of these terms should make it easier for producers and consumers to understand the conditions of being granted a TSG label. Products have been classified as either “agricultural products intended for human consumption” (such as beer, soups, confectionaries etc) or foodstuffs. Both are listed in Annex to the Regulation. A number of procedures have been set out regarding the inspection of products seeking a TSG label. The Regulation requires that groups of producers should, voluntarily, define specific characteristics in a product application. The option of registering a TSG has been made available to third-country producers. EU TSG registration will be subject to control arrangements based on Regulation 883/2004/EC governing “official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules”. Operators must also comply with provisions relating to product specification before marketing agricultural products and foodstuffs. In order to qualify for protection, producers must, as a first step, register their application at a Community level. Entry in a register will provide information to both traders and consumers. The information will then be passed on to the national authorities concerned, who in turn will scrutinise each application. There will be a possibility to object should a third party deem the application to be of neither a “traditional” nor of a “specific characteristic” nature. Subsequently the Commission , for the purpose of uniformity, will scrutinise the application further. The right to object will be granted to citizens of third countries with a legitimate interest, under the same criteria. The criteria will be evaluated in relation to the territory of the Community. Further, in order to avoid creating unfair conditions of competition, any producer, including third-country producers, should be able to use either a registered name together with a particular indication and, where appropriate, the Community symbol associated with the indication “traditional specialities guaranteed” or a registered name. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 19 April 2006. docs: title: Regulation 2006/509 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32006R0509 title: OJ L 093 31.03.2006, p. 0001-0011 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2006:093:TOC
other
  • body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Former Council configuration
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/agriculture/ title: Agriculture and Rural Development
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
Old
AGRI/6/32517
New
  • AGRI/6/32517
procedure/final/url
Old
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32006R0509
New
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32006R0509
procedure/instrument
Old
Regulation
New
  • Regulation
  • Repealed by 2010/0353(COD)
procedure/subject
Old
  • 3.10.03 Marketing and trade of agricultural products and livestock
  • 4.60.02 Consumer information, advertising, labelling
New
3.10.03
Marketing and trade of agricultural products and livestock
4.60.02
Consumer information, advertising, labelling
procedure/summary
  • Repealed by
activities/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2005/0694/COM_COM(2005)0694_EN.pdf
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2005/0694/COM_COM(2005)0694_EN.pdf
links/European Commission/title
Old
PreLex
New
EUR-Lex
activities
  • date: 2005-12-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2005/0694/COM_COM(2005)0694_EN.pdf celexid: CELEX:52005PC0694:EN type: Legislative proposal published title: COM(2005)0694 type: Legislative proposal published body: EC commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/agriculture/ title: Agriculture and Rural Development
  • body: CSL meeting_id: 2703 docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=SMPL&ROWSPP=25&RESULTSET=1&NRROWS=500&DOC_LANCD=EN&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC&CONTENTS=2703*&MEET_DATE=23/01/2006 type: Debate in Council title: 2703 council: General Affairs date: 2006-01-23T00:00:00 type: Council Meeting
  • date: 2006-02-01T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AGRI date: 2005-11-23T00:00:00 committee_full: Agriculture and Rural Development rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: GRAEFE ZU BARINGDORF Friedrich-Wilhelm body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee: IMCO body: EP responsible: False committee_full: International Trade committee: INTA
  • date: 2006-02-21T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AGRI date: 2005-11-23T00:00:00 committee_full: Agriculture and Rural Development rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: GRAEFE ZU BARINGDORF Friedrich-Wilhelm body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee: IMCO body: EP responsible: False committee_full: International Trade committee: INTA type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2006-02-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2006-33&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading title: A6-0033/2006 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AGRI date: 2005-11-23T00:00:00 committee_full: Agriculture and Rural Development rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: GRAEFE ZU BARINGDORF Friedrich-Wilhelm body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee: IMCO body: EP responsible: False committee_full: International Trade committee: INTA type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2006-03-15T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20060315&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2006-03-16T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=4519&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2006-94 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0094/2006 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2006-03-20T00:00:00 body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Agriculture and Fisheries meeting_id: 2720
  • date: 2006-03-20T00:00:00 body: EP type: End of procedure in Parliament
  • date: 2006-03-20T00:00:00 body: EP/CSL type: Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
  • date: 2006-03-31T00:00:00 type: Final act published in Official Journal docs: url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32006R0509 title: Regulation 2006/509 url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2006:093:TOC title: OJ L 093 31.03.2006, p. 0001-0011
committees
  • body: EP responsible: True committee: AGRI date: 2005-11-23T00:00:00 committee_full: Agriculture and Rural Development rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: GRAEFE ZU BARINGDORF Friedrich-Wilhelm
  • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI
  • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee: IMCO
  • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: International Trade committee: INTA
links
European Commission
other
  • body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Former Council configuration
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/agriculture/ title: Agriculture and Rural Development
procedure
dossier_of_the_committee
AGRI/6/32517
reference
2005/0270(CNS)
instrument
Regulation
legal_basis
EC Treaty (after Amsterdam) EC 037
stage_reached
Procedure completed
summary
Repealed by
subtype
Legislation
title
Agricultural products and foodstuffs: traditional specialities guaranteed (repeal. Regulation (EEC) No 2082/92)
type
CNS - Consultation procedure
final
subject