Resolution on the indication of country of origin for certain products entering the EU from third countries

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the indication of country of origin for certain products entering the EU from third countries.

The resolution was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ALDE, ECR, GUE/NGL and Greens/EFA groups.

Parliament refers to the Commission proposal for a regulation on the indication of the country of origin of certain products imported from third countries, and notes that it adopted its position at first reading on 21 October 2010. Whilst more than two years have passed, the Council has not yet adopted its common position, leaving the codecision process in a state of stalemate. Furthermore, the Commission has indicated that recent developments in the legal interpretation of WTO rules have rendered its proposal outdated.

However, Parliament deplores the Commission's intention to withdraw the proposal without having duly informed Parliament in a timely manner and without having provided the colegislators with a detailed explanation of its purpose before taking the decision. Noting that common provisions are necessary to enhance competitiveness among WTO member countries and to ensure a level playing field with producers in those of the EU's major partner countries which have implemented origin marking, Parliament calls on the Commission to reconsider its planned decision or to propose new WTO-compatible legislation to deal with those issues originally targeted by the initial proposal.

The Commission is also asked to:

• inform Parliament of the timeline for the future actions necessary to relaunch the legislative process and overcome the current stalemate;
• initiate a comparative study of the legislative regulations on origin marking currently in force in and implemented in each WTO member country, with a view to analysing the underlying principles and evaluating compatibility with WTO rules.