Compulsory origin of the rice on the label. Minister Maurizio Martina has finally announced the decree to introduce it. Good news, waiting to know the actual developments.
The Minister of Agriculture, Alimentari e Forestali met in Rome on 13 April 2017 the councilors for agriculture of the Piedmont and Veneto Regions, Giorgio Ferrero and Giuseppe Pan. Together with representatives of agricultural and industry organizations, and the National Risi Authority.
Compulsory origin of the rice on the label to support Made in Italy
The production of Italian rice - first in Europe, in terms of quantity (1) and variety - is afflicted by an intolerable market crisis. The downward price lists are affected by competition from Asian rice, imported at zero duty in the European Union. And the supply of indigenous varieties remains largely without outlets.
An intervention plan to enhance local productions and protect the income of agricultural producers of Italian rice has been announced. With the commitment to allocate 2 million euros in the 'promotion of rice qualities', and a number of specific measures. Measures that in hindsight the Chamber of Deputies had already invoked since November 2015, with various motions of the 5 Star Movement.
The mandatory origin rice on the label, apparently, would be foreseen in a decree that would have already received the consent of the Minister for Economic Development Carlo Calenda. And so:
- in Italy, mandatory origin labeling should be tested soon. With the duty to specify the country of cultivation and that of processing, 'in an obvious spot'of the package. Only on processed and / or packaged and marketed rice in our country. The principle of free movement of goods prevents the extension of the rule to products legitimately manufactured in the EU. (2) Meanwhile,
- in Europe, the Italian government promises to take an active part in promoting the mandatory origin of rice on the label on every product processed and / or packaged in the EU. On closer inspection, EU regulation 1169/11 had required the European Commission to evaluate the opportunity to extend the mandatory indication of origin to mono-ingredient foods, among others. But Brussels, despite repeated reminders from the European Parliament, has turned in the opposite direction.
Stop the damage of import at zero duty
Imports into the EU at zero duty they are also targeted by the minister, who promises to ask the European Commission for the urgent activation of the so-called safeguard clause. The only way to immediately plug the wounds caused by the European neoliberal policies to the rice supply chain. (3)
In the medium term, alleges the minister, Regulation (EU) 978/2012 should be reviewed, (4) introducing 'stronger mechanisms for protecting producers' incomes. ' In the meantime, we would ask for the activation of quantitative quotas on imports of rice at zero duty from the LDCs. But it is difficult to believe that the words of the agricultural ministers of the few rice-producing Member States (Portugal, Spain, France, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria) will have an influence on European trade policies. (5)
Footnotes
(1) Italian rice is grown on 234 thousand hectares by 4.265 rice farms and processed by 100 rice farms. For a total value of 1 billion euros (compared to 3 of the total value in Europe)
(2) Compliance with the free trade principle was not enough to prevent that The United States and Canada declared war on the Italian decrees on the origin of milk and wheat
(3) The worsening of stocks is added to the depression of the price lists, + 45% in Italy (260.111 tons) compared to the previous campaign (+ 24% EU, to 546.000 tons)
(4) The reg. (EU) 978/2012 applies a system of generalized tariff preferences in favor of least developed countries. In the name of international aid (EBA, Everything But Arms), the mercantile interests of the oligarchs on both sides are favored. Without any impact on the average income of the theoretically beneficiary populations
(5) From solemn principles to harsh reality, free trade reigns. And the Brussels bureaucrats do not take care of the integrity of distant production chains (in terms of health, environmental, safety and protection of workers), nor the impact of their products on the market and local supply chains. Dumping
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
