Production and marketing of honey: pollen in honey; aligning the Directive with the TFEU (Commission delegated and implementing powers)
The European Parliament adopted by 283 votes to 248, with 45 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 2001/110/EC relating to honey.
The report was referred back to the committee at the 15 January 2014 plenary sitting.
Parliament adopted its position at first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments adopted in plenary are the result of an agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council. They amended the proposal as follows:
Pollen: the compromise text stipulated that pollen, being a natural constituent particular to honey, should not be considered to be an ingredient, within the meaning of point (f) of Article 2(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers.
Labelling requirements: requirements as regards the case where honey originates in more than one Member State or third country have been clarified. If the honey originates in more than one Member State or third country, the indication of the countries of origin may be replaced with one of the following, as appropriate: (i) 'blend of EU honeys', (ii) 'blend of non-EU honeys', (iii) 'blend of EU and non-EU honeys'.
Commission powers: in order to ensure fair commercial practices and protect consumer interests and enabling the setting out of relevant methods of analysis, the Commission should be empowered to adopt delegated acts to supplement this Directive by laying down the quantitative parameters relating to the following: (a) the criterion of “mainly” as regards the floral or vegetable origin of honey; and, (b) the minimal content of pollen in filtered honey following removal of foreign inorganic or organic matter.
The duration of the delegation of power conferred on the Commission has been set at 5 years which may be tacitly extended.