Measures to protect the traditional character of Greek yogurt and the living standards of Greek stockbreeders
| 5 April 2016 |
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| Question for written answer to the Commission Rule 130 Notis Marias (ECR) |
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In the name of adapting to the OECD toolkit, the Greek Government has submitted to the Commission for approval a Joint Ministerial Decision on changing the institutional framework in the Greek Food Code by dropping the term ‘raw milk’ for the process whereby Greek yogurt is manufactured. This would allow the use of cheap raw materials, such as wholly dehydrated milk or milk powder to make traditional Greek yogurt. The consequences of such a move would be to:
| — | Create potential public health risks; |
| — | Threaten the traditional production character of Greek yogurt and thus jeopardise Greece’s cultural heritage; |
| — | Compromise the livelihood of Greek stockbreeders already reduced to poverty by the Memorandum who will be unable to compete with the prices of low-quality imported goods and raw materials; |
| — | Harm consumers, since they will be consuming low-quality yoghurt. |
The Czech Republic has already submitted a plan to the Commission asking to manufacture dairy products under the name ‘Greek yoghurt’.
In view of the above, will the Commission say:
| — | Will it agree to the above amendments to the Greek Food Code (Article 82, etc.) that degrade the quality of traditional Greek yogurt? |
| — | Will it allow producers from the Czech Republic illegally to use the name ‘Greek yoghurt’ for the dairy products that they produce? |
Source: European Parliament
Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission
The protection of dairy terms in the common market Organisation does not impose that yoghurts are directly made from raw milk, the focus being on ensuring that there is no replacement of milk constituents.
‘Greek yogurt’ refers to a particular production method. The designation is not protected and may be used outside Greece, provided that consumers are not misled about the place of origin.
Within the framework of the notification procedures of Directive 98/34/EC(1) and Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011(2), the Czech authorities have notified(3) to the Commission draft legislation laying down requirements for milk, yogurt, other milk products, ice creams and edible fats and oils. According to the clarifications received by the Czech authorities, the term ‘Greek yogurt’ is already used in the national market and it is perceived by the Czech consumers as referring to a specific type of product, produced with certain characteristics and not as referring to the country of origin of the yogurt. In consultation with Commission services, the Czech authorities have agreed to impose an origin labelling indication on products which bear the term ‘Greek yogurt’, in order to ensure that consumers are not misled.
(1) This directive has been codified and repealed by Directive 2015/1535/EU laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical regulations and of rules on Information Society services (codification), OJ L 241, 17.9.2015, p. 1‐15.
(2) Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, OJ L 304, 22.11.2011, p. 18.
(3) Notification No 2015/0169/CZ.
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