FoodDrinkEurope e-News

FoodDrinkEurope is vocal about the need for a strong Single Market, following Brexit and the French decision on mandatory origin labelling

FoodDrinkEurope and its members expressed their disappointment with the outcome of the Brexit vote. This is a blow that will have repercussions across all Member States of the EU. FoodDrinkEurope made a clear call to European authorities and national governments to take the necessary steps to reinforce the Union.

The peoples of the United Kingdom have made the decision to leave the European Union; this choice will be respected. The European Union must learn from this experience and not allow for further weakening of the EU in today’s particularly challenging context.

Only a few weeks later, the Single Market took one more blow, when the European Commission announced that it will allow the French authorities to introduce a 2-year trial period for the mandatory labelling of origin for milk and meat ingredients in foods. 

Whilst the initiative is framed as a "test" and applies only to France, it is a mandatory measure which will have an immediate market impact, with considerable negative consequences for producers and for consumers, namely burdensome changes in the supply chain, difficulties in the labelling process and higher prices. Moreover, of crucial importance in today's context for Europe, this protectionist measure also sets an irreversible precedent for the fragmentation of the EU Single Market for foods and drinks.

The FoodDrinkEurope team and our President took on to twitter to express their regret for this decision: 

EU legislators must continue to make progress on issues close to the heart of businesses, of growth and of jobs, such as the Single Market and Better Regulation.