Deceptive Labeling: Brussels Plans Tougher Organic Food Rules

[unhappycamper]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/eu-commission-plans-tighter-rules-on-organic-food-sector-a-943461.html



The European Commission plans to tighten rules on the booming organic food sector due to concerns that many products aren't as pure as claimed. More rigorous checks are needed and loopholes must be removed, says a draft paper seen by SPIEGEL.

Deceptive Labeling: Brussels Plans Tougher Organic Food Rules
By Christoph Schult
January 14, 2014 – 05:15 PM

The European Union's official seal for organic foods features a red strawberry glistening in the sunlight, with a farm in the background. Anyone who buys yoghurt containing the label expects to getting a pot full of natural goodness.

But appearances can be deceptive. An organic strawberry yoghurt doesn't necessarily contain any fruit at all. A gap in the EU rules on organic food allows producers to use artificial aromas.

Many consumers have long had their doubts about how genuine supposedly organic products are. Now the European Commission has delivered proof. "In the long run, standards that are not trustworthy can jeopardize public confidence and lead to market failure," says the draft of a new EU directive seen by SPIEGEL.

EU Farming Commissioner Dacian Ciolos wants to introduce stricter rules for the production and sale of foods bearing an official organic label. He wants to remove the many exceptions that lead to an organic product not consisting 100 percent of organic ingredients. "Organic production rules are watered down by exceptions and unclear provisions" the EU officials wrote in a paper.