Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT) rapporteur and Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Chair of the Committee for Agriculture, speak to the press on Geographical Indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Strasbourg

press conference

LINS, Norbert (EPP, DE)

DE CASTRO, Paolo (S&D, IT)

food labelling (T)

Press conference by Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT) rapporteur and Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Chair of the Committee for Agriculture on Geographical Indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/75150927/1709124174340_I253513Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (Original), Spokesperson Hello, I think we can start this press conference with a slight delay, and I welcome you all. Thanks a lot for coming. This press conference then on the geographical indications. I welcome the rapporteur for the file, Mr. Paolo DeCastro, and the chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Mr. Norbert Lins. Mr. Lins you have the floor.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Chair of the Committee for Agriculture, Yes, thank you. Thank you very much. Welcome. From my side, today we have good news for the agriculture sector in the European Union. As you may be aware, the proposal was originally announced in 2020. 2020 Farm to Fork Strategy with a view of improving the contribution of cheeses to sustainable production and to strengthening the position of farmers and producers Group.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Chair of the Committee for Agriculture, Geographical indication is a distinctive sign used to identify a product whose quality reputation or other such characteristics relate to its graphical origin. But it's more than that. It's not only of greater economic importance, but also culturally important for our family businesses in the regions which often produce in a centuries old tradition and by hand.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Chair of the Committee for Agriculture, I think there were some improvements of the original proposal, for example, and Parliament requested better online protection for registered agriculture products, preventing the abuse of registered products used as ingredients, and proposes more rights and financial support for recognised producers.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Chair of the Committee for Agriculture, But the key elements will be presented now by the rapporteur, Paolo De Castro, who will present to you the success story of geographical, geographical indication and what were the most important things which were important for the Parliament? Thank you very much.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Spokesperson Thanks a lot. Mr. De Castro, Please.

'SOUNDBITE (Original), Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT), rapporteur, - Thanks a lot, dear Chair, dear Norbert. I'm going to speak in Italian. Do I take advantages of the interpreter. Thank you very much. .

'SOUNDBITE (Original), Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT), rapporteur, - As the chair just said, this is good news. This work took almost two years. The College of Commissioners gave us the proposal on the 31st of March 20, 22. We had a major negotiating team. I'd like to thank the shadows, some of whom are here. Thank you, Ms.. Aguilar. And I'd like to thank the staff for the extraordinary work done under the Swedish and then the Spanish Presidencies. There are 97 Articles eight, more than 80 recitals, and the Italian version is more than 200 pages long. And I'm very glad that the plenary adopted this with a very large majority.

'SOUNDBITE (Original), Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT), rapporteur, - We're talking about quality policies. This is the only single text on quality in Europe. It covers. Why not food stuffs, agricultural products. It's a package of rules which will give a real boost to a sector which is already working well.

'SOUNDBITE (Original), Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT), rapporteur, - We're not just talking about gastronomical curiosities. This is a real asset of the European food scene. We're talking about 80 billion euros in turnover across the European Union. So this is a real asset for our territories, providing opportunities for development, growth and jobs. And I'm very glad to be able to say this here at a time when European farmers are facing difficulties that are being protests.

'SOUNDBITE (Original), Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT), rapporteur, - Now these geographical indications really put the work of our farmers in the forefront and they help them in terms of their food, of the prices paid to the producers.

'SOUNDBITE (Original), Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT), rapporteur, - The average price is paid for. These products are higher than the usual ones on the market. So we're talking about strengthening the producer groups who are the real driving force for the GI system. They have greater responsibilities combating abusive practices and then the issue of GI tourism as well.

'SOUNDBITE (Original), Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT), rapporteur, - Then the issue is greater protection, particularly online, through an innovative system of sort of geo blocking, which will guarantee the protection of fake Internet sites, copying are geographical indications and trademarks. And then this issue of G.I Products used as ingredients in processed products as well, they're covered.

'SOUNDBITE (Original), Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT), rapporteur, - We've come up with a solution to certain shortcomings in the system which allowed via national laws or union laws to cause some problems to the GI system.

'SOUNDBITE (Original), Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT), rapporteur, - And then another issue is simplification and will have swifter admins to proceed procedures and they will be set deadlines. The deadlines laid down are less than a year and to conclude, sustainability, animal welfare and transparency vis a vis the consumer.

 From now on, when the regulation comes into force, it'll be in the official journal at the beginning of April and the name of the producer will have to be on the label. And this is an important step forward, not just for transparency but also for healthy competition amongst quality products. So I'll leave it there. And of course, I'm very happy to answer any questions.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Spokesperson We open the floor for questions. Any questions in the room? Yes, please state your name and media.