European Commission takes first step in agricultural policy overhaul

The European Commission has proposed a new "Agricultural Product Quality Schemes Regulation" as part of the first step in a planned overhaul of the European Union's agricultural product quality policy.

The effort groups together various EU product quality labeling schemes into a single piece of legislation, targeting the flagship scheme for protected designations of origin and geographical indications, the traditional specialties guaranteed scheme and Optional Quality Terms. The labeling proposal is part of a larger "Quality Package" meant to "support quality agricultural products in the EU," according to the Commission. The package includes a proposal to streamline the adoption of marketing standards by the Commission, new guidelines on best practices for voluntary certification schemes and new guidelines on the labeling of products using geographical indications as ingredients.