An improved quality scheme for European food production?
The European Commission has launched a green paper and consultation on specific EU quality schemes for food production - such as geographical indications, traditional specialities and organic farming; and food quality certification schemes. It specifically asks if Protected Designations of Origin, Protected Geographical Indications and Traditional Specialities Guaranteed are helpful schemes and whether they could be improved. It is also looking into baseline production requirements and marketing standards.
This consultation comes at a time when high quality food production – such as small scale food in the form of mountain or farmhouse products, is a rapidly growing sector in Norway. Distinguishing these products is of high importance in order to become established and remain competitive in the market.
Improve policy to reap full benefit
Mountain area products is just one area where Norway excels and when speaking about the importance of this consultation for mountain areas, the European Commissioner responsible for agriculture and rural development, Mariann Fischer Boel, stated “When it comes to food, the image of the mountain is a very positive image indeed – I don't think anyone would deny that. People associate it with cleanness, with freshness, with "natural" production methods. These positive associations are a resource of enormous potential value. Some of that potential is already being unlocked. But I'm certain we can release more of it. We can use an improved quality policy to make sure that farmers and food producers in mountainous areas reap the full benefit of what their production methods can offer.”
European farmers’ challenges
The European Commission sees that products from emerging countries with low production costs are putting greater pressure on European farmers — at home and in 3rd countries. This process has been advanced by globalisation, trade agreements, freer markets, and lowering border protection. European farmers have to meet this challenge head-on.
Quality requirements can be turned to an advantage
They already follow some of the most exacting farming requirements in the world and have the savoir-faire to deliver the product qualities demanded by the market. Instead of seeing these demands as a burden, farmers have a real opportunity to turn them to their advantage – by delivering exactly what consumers want, clearly distinguishing their products in the marketplace, and gaining premiums in return.
Contributions are particularly sought from food producers and farmers, NGOs, processors, retailers, distributors, traders, consumers and public bodies. The green paper is open for consultation until 31 December 2008. On the basis of this consultation, the Commission will develop policy options in 2009.
The two key questions of the consultation are
• how should instruments like geographical indications and food quality certification schemes be developed in future?
• what is the role of marketing standards for agricultural products?
If you would like more information on Geographical Indications or any other form of Intellectual Property Right for your business, please contact your local Innovasjon Norge office where you will be connected to our network of IPR specialists.
For more information on the green paper and to contribute to the consultation: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/policy/index_en.htm