The European Parliament adopted by 522 votes to 13, with 65 abstentions, amendments to the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directives 2001/110/EC relating to honey, 2001/112/EC relating to fruit juices and certain similar products intended for human consumption, 2001/113/EC relating to fruit jams, jellies and marmalades and sweetened chestnut purée intended for human consumption, and 2001/114/EC relating to certain partly or wholly dehydrated preserved milk for human consumption.
The matter was referred back to the committee responsible for interinstitutional negotiations.
Honey
Each honey marketed with a different identification than that of the beekeeper should have an identifier code linked to a traceability system that allows the competent authorities of Member States to trace back the entire supply chain of a given honey to beekeepers.
The country of origin where the honey has been harvested should be indicated on the label. If the honey has been harvested in one country only, that country should be indicated on the front-of-pack label close to the product brand name. If the honey consists of a blend of honeys harvested in several countries, the list of the countries of origin should be indicated on the front-of-pack label in descending order of quantity.
For packs containing more than 30g, the percentage share in weight for each country of origin should be indicated on the label using one of the following ranges:
- >90 %
- 70 %-90 %
- 50 %-70 %
- 30 %-50 %
- 10 %-30 %
- <10 %.
For packs containing 30g or less, the percentage share in weight for each country of origin may be indicated on the label using one of the following ranges:
- >75 %
- 50 %-75 %
- 25 %-50 %
- <25 %.
Members also stipulated that an EU reference laboratory for honey should be established to improve controls and to detect adulteration in honey through systematic testing of honey, using the latest test methods to prove the authenticity and quality of honey.
The Commission should adopt, through delegated acts, a harmonised methodology to determine the precise origins of honey and honey authenticity. This methodology should, by means of laboratory testing or any other method deemed appropriate, enable competent authorities to trace honey back to its country or countries of origin and shall allow detection of the lowest possible levels and all types of adulteration in order to ascertain honey authenticity.
Fruit juices
The country of origin of the fruit used to manufacture the juice shall be indicated on the front-label. If the fruit used originates in more than one country, the countries of origin shall be indicated on the label in descending order according to their proportion in the fruit juice.
The statement ‘contains only naturally occurring sugars’ may appear on the label.
Labelling for mixtures of fruit juice and fruit juice from concentrate, for reduced-sugar fruit juice, for reduced-sugar fruit juice from concentrate, and for fruit nectar obtained entirely or partly from one or more concentrated products, the labelling should bear the words ‘from concentrate(s)’ or ‘partially from concentrate(s)’, as appropriate.
Claims regarding positive properties, such as health benefits, ingredients or nutritional value, in comparison to the natural fruits contained in the fruit juice should not be made on the labelling for reduced-sugar fruit juice or reduced-sugar fruit juice from concentrate.
By 31 December 2024, the Commission should present a legislative proposal to amend Annex I in order to introduce a definition of “essential physical, chemical, organoleptical and nutritional characteristics of an average type of juice”, covering the main fruits used in fruit juices.
Members stated that any form of additional sugar or sweetener, whether natural or artificial, is strictly prohibited in reduced-sugar fruit juice. They considered that new processing techniques have been or are being developed to entirely or partially remove naturally occurring sugars in fruit juices and fruit juices from concentrate, in order to address the growing consumer demand for products with a lower sugar content. Those new techniques should not lead to the use of sweeteners or additives to compensate for the effect of sugar reduction on the taste, texture and quality of the final product.
For jams, jellies, marmalades and sweetened chestnut purée, the country of origin of the fruit used should also be indicated on the front label. If the product is made from a single type of fruit and the fruit used originates from more than one country, the countries of origin must be indicated on the label in descending order of the proportion by weight of fruit and sugars from the said countries used to make the product.
For products using a mixture of different fruits originating in several countries, the countries of origin should be indicated on the label in descending order of the proportion by weight of fruits originating in the said countries used to manufacture the product.
Penalties
Member States should lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of the national provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive and should take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for should be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.