Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-09-12-Speech-3-469-000"
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"en.20120912.26.3-469-000"2
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"Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, two legislative proposals comprise the so-called ‘quality package’, which was presented in December 2010: one on agricultural product quality schemes, which basically covers the rules on geographical indications and other voluntary schemes, and the other amending the articles in the single common market organisation (CMO) that refer to the marketing standards that agricultural products should fulfil to be sold within the European Union.
The traditional specialty guaranteed (TSG) scheme is not undergoing such a radical change as was initially proposed. A transitional period for TSGs to exist without reserving a name has been established, a simplified system is introduced, and a 30-year period is established for the use of the term ‘traditional’.
A quality system is set up for mountain farming products, as requested by Parliament, the operation and details of which will be developed by the Commission, ensuring it has a uniform, community-based focus. I will take this opportunity, Commissioner, to pass on to you a question that I have been asked more than once since we reached the agreement: When do you estimate this quality system will be ready and in operation?
Undoubtedly, the role of producer groups is strengthened and acknowledged more than in the initial proposal, although not as much as the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development would have liked. Those present here know that every effort was made so that the final agreement would give them an active role in the repositioning of production to the market, as was agreed with ‘designation of origin’ or PGI cheese producers in the milk package.
It was not possible with this regulation. It was not possible to overcome the Council’s opposition to accepting for this case what it had already approved for the dairy sector. For our part, almost all the political groups have acted constructively by adopting the agreement we have reached.
With respect to the latter, the Council has not been able to agree on a full negotiating mandate, meaning we have not even been able to debate the position adopted by the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development over a year ago, a position that Mr Dantin has now included in his report on the single CMO. I hope this wider context leads to negotiation.
When it comes to the proposal for regulation before us today, the trialogue concluded with an agreement on 20 June 2012, an agreement we hope to see ratified in this part-session.
After the ‘milk package’, it is the second agricultural dossier to be adopted by means of the ordinary legislative procedure, and it was a good running-in process to undertake the important negotiations that await us with the reform of the common agricultural policy.
The idea behind the geographical indications system is to protect designations that identify a product as originating from a particular area and to attribute to it the quality, reputation and other characteristics that differentiate and enhance it, due to either its origin or its mode of production.
It undoubtedly means a potential economic opportunity for farmers and food producers, which is very beneficial to the rural economy, although it is first and foremost a system for registering and protecting intellectual property rights, a system that has been in place since 1992 and is already one of the hallmarks of European agriculture. Since then, it has protected registered product names in the Union in a uniform and harmonised manner. Proof of its success can be seen in the fact that there has been a constant increase in registered products since the system was introduced.
The Commission’s proposal was not as far reaching as expected given the overview contained in the Green Paper. It must be acknowledged, however, that the system has been simplified and harmonised, and coherent rules have been put in place as required. One of the objectives the Commission took very much into account in their proposals was the strengthening and simplification of quality systems.
I want to highlight other improvements, such as the strengthening of monitoring rules. Each Member State is a market, not only for its own ‘designation of origin’ or ‘protected geographical indication’ (PGI) products, but also for those from other Member States. They should all ensure the appropriate use and effective protection of all the indications.
The use of Union logos will be compulsory from now on. This is essential to rectify the lack of consumer knowledge of the geographical indication system."@en1
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