Dairy and meat processors have heavily criticised plans to introduce origin labelling in France.

EU Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis unofficially gave origin labelling on a mandatory basis the go-ahead earlier this month as the notification by France received no reply. After a notification is made to the Commission, there is a two-month preiod to reply. However, when there is no reply, a notification is seen as passed.

Representatives from the European Dairy Association (EDA) and CLITRAVI (meat processors) warned in a joint letter to president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday that the move would lead to the collapse of the European single market, raise the costs for processors and would not contribute to food safety.

The origin labelling plan requires French dairy processors to label the origin of the milk used in their products.

The new rules will also cover some meat ingredients in processed foods.

It is expected that the new regulations will be brought in from next year.

The EDA said the approval by the EU Commission on the French draft decree on mandatory origin labelling was a failure to protect the single market principle.

EDA secretary general Alexander Anton warned the move by France would be replicated by other member states: “We have seen the French proposal going viral across Europe – the Italian government has already notified a draft decree and others will certainly follow the French example. This translates as the end of the single market principle for milk and dairy products.”

“We are proud of the many dairies in border regions, most of which are rather small companies that have up to five EU member states in their milk collection area. They lived from the single market in producing high-quality milk and dairy with milk from their geographical region, even if national borders go through their milk collection area. This will now be made very complicated, if not impossible,” Alexander Anton said.

Irish view

Director of the Irish Dairy Industries Association (IDIA) Conor Mulvihill echoed this view.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, he said the introduction of mandatory origin labelling was totally unfair and against the single market principle.

“We have a fear that this move is another step to nationalising the EU dairy industry and that puts farmers and co-ops at a major disadvantage. It also adds an extra cost to businesses, which will affect consumers.”

“For a country that exports 90% of our dairy produce, this is totally unfair and it is an attempt to nationalise dairy products.”

Mulvihill added that the IDIA has “no problem with a ‘Made in Ireland’ or ‘Made in France’ label because of the voluntary legislation, but it is the compulsory nature that we are against”.