No mandatory origin labeling on food products in Luxembourg

At the Agriculture Council meeting in Brussels on Monday, May 27, 2024, several delegations called for mandatory origin labeling to be extended to other foods. Luxembourg argued for voluntary origin labeling on agricultural products. DP MP Gusty Graas asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Viticulture why Luxembourg favors voluntary rather than mandatory labeling, how this position can meet the requirements of transparency for consumers and the competitiveness of local producers, and what initiatives are planned to ensure that Luxembourg consumers are well informed about the origin of the food they buy.

Question

Lors du Conseil ‘Agriculture’ de lundi 27 mai 2024 à Bruxelles les délégations allemande et autrichienne, soutenues notamment par la France, la Finlande, l’Estonie et le Portugal, ont demandé d’étendre l’étiquetage obligatoire de l’origine à d’autres denrées alimentaires. Actuellement, diverses obligations européennes d’indiquer le pays d’origine sont déjà en place pour certains produits (viande bovine, viande porcine, ovine, caprine et de volaille, œufs, fruits et légumes frais, miel, huile d’olive, produits biologiques). Un tel cadre juridique au niveau européen permettrait notamment de renforcer la position des agriculteurs européens dans la chaîne d’approvisionnement alimentaire et améliorer la transparence pour les consommateurs.

Le Luxembourg a plaidé pour un étiquetage volontaire de l’origine sur les produits agricoles.

Dans ce contexte, j’aimerais poser les questions suivantes à Madame la Ministre de l’Agriculture, de l’Alimentation et de la Viticulture :

1. Quelles sont les raisons justifiant la préférence au Luxembourg pour un étiquetage facultatif plutôt qu’obligatoire ?

2. Comment cette position peut-elle répondre aux exigences de transparence pour les consommateurs et à la compétitivité des producteurs locaux ?

3. Quelles initiatives sont prévues pour garantir que les consommateurs luxembourgeois soient bien informés sur l’origine des produits alimentaires qu’ils achètent ?

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