Activities of Juozas OLEKAS related to 2023/0105(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directives 2001/110/EC relating to honey, 2001/112/EC relating to fruit juices and certain similar products intended for human consumption, 2001/113/EC relating to fruit jams, jellies and marmalades and sweetened chestnut purée intended for human consumption, and 2001/114/EC relating to certain partly or wholly dehydrated preserved milk for human consumption
Amendments (32)
Amendment 10 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Council Directive 2001/110/EC20 lays down definitions, names, common rules on composition, quality and labelling requirements for honey. _________________ 20 Council Directive 2001/110/EC of 20 December 2001 relating to honey (OJ L 10, 12.1.2002, p. 47).
Amendment 19 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In light of the close link between the quality of honey and its origin and the need for the consumer not to be misled regarding the quality of the product, Directive 2001/110/EC lays down rules on the labelling of the origin where the honey has been harvested. In particular, Article 2(4) of that Directive requires the country or countries of origin where the honey has been harvested to be indicated on the label and provides that, if honey originates in more than one Member State or third country, the mandatory indication of the countries of origin may be replaced by one of the following, as appropriate: ‘blend of EU honeys’, ‘blend of non-EU honeys’, ‘blend of EU and non-EU honeys’. The different rules adopted on this basis by Member States may have misled consumers and may have hindered the functioning of the internal market. In the light of Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy’s objective of strengthening consumers in making informed choices, including on the geographical origin of their food, and the details of this origin in case of blending, and in the interest to preserve the efficient functioning of the internal market throughout the Union through a harmonisation of the labelling rules, it is appropriate to revise the rules for honey origin labelling and provide that the country or countries of origin should be mentioned on the packaging. In light of the reduced size of the packs containing only a single portion of honey (breakfast packs) and the resulting technical difficulties, it is therefore appropriate to exempt those packs from the obligation of listing all individual countries of origin, where the honey originates in more than one countryin descending order and with their respective percentages on the packaging.
Amendment 29 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) Given the particular interest shown by consumers in the geographical origin of honey in relation to its characteristics and quality, and the need for full transparency in this area, the country or countries of origin in which the honey was harvested must appear on the label in the same visual field as the indication of the product. In light of the reduced size of the packs containing only a single portion of honey (breakfast packs) and the resulting technical difficulties, it is therefore appropriate to exempt those packs from the obligation of listing all individual countries of origin, where the honey originates in more than one country.
Amendment 35 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 b (new)
Recital 3 b (new)
(3b) Recalling that the 2023 DG Health - JRC - and OLAF reports on honey adulteration "EU Coordinate action "From the hives"" and "EU Coordinate action to deter certain fraudulent practices in the honey sector - Analytical testing results of imported honeys" highlight a very high percentage of imported honeys suspected of adulteration and confirm a range of frauds that exist in the honey sector. Aware of the fact that some operators use "customised" sugar syrups that are very difficult to detect even when the most sophisticated analytical techniques. Noting with regret the lack of official, validated analytical methods for detecting new types of adulteration with sugar syrups means that national authorities are unable to identify as fraudulent honeys. Pointing out that the honey market is faced with a significant supply of honeys that have been adulterated by the addition of sugar syrups, either during the honeyflow or at some stage in the packaging process. Convinced that several elements need to be clarified or improved in the honey directive to limit the possibilities of fraud and facilitate controls: complementing mandatory traceability measures with a block-chain system, rejecting filtered honey and honeys whose excessive water content has been reduced by vacuum evaporation.
Amendment 45 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 d (new)
Recital 3 d (new)
Amendment 47 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 e (new)
Recital 3 e (new)
(3e) Acknowledging that the term filtered honey used in Directive 2001/110 is misinterpreted by consumers, who confuse this industrial filtration with the filtration carried out by beekeepers after extracting their honey to remove particles of wax and other foreign elements from the honey. Consequently, filtered honeys as defined in Directive 2001/110/EC should no longer be allowed to be marketed under the name "honey" and the definition of "filtered honey" should be deleted from the text of the Directive. Noticing that the removal by filtration of some or all of the pollen and figurative elements present in a honey and a filter mesh size of less than 100 µm no longer allows the correct identification of the geographical and/or botanical origin of a honey. This makes it much more difficult to differentiate between sugar syrup or a mixture of honey and syrup and honey. Industrial filtration makes it impossible to trace honey using an analytical approach such as melissopalynology. Underlining that Annex II of Directive 2001/110 should be amended to specify the level of filtration permitted, which does not significantly alter the density and pollen spectrum of the honey, but which does remove most of the foreign matter in the honey.
Amendment 49 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 f (new)
Recital 3 f (new)
(3f) Recalling that both the definition of honey in Directive 2001/110 EC and that of the Codex Alimentarius clearly specify the work carried out by bees in the hive after they have harvested their crop, which they transform by combining it with specific materials of their own, deposit, dehydrate, store, and leave to ripen in the combs of the hive. Dehydration followed by ripening are operations carried out by the bees. Outside the European Union, some countries accept that the work of bees is limited to harvesting nectar secretions from plants or honeydew in the production of honey. Unripe honeys produced in this way have a moisture content well in excess of the 20% threshold laid down in Directive 2001/110/EC. Operators work with heated vats under a vacuum to limit the boiling temperature of the water in the honey. However, this process degrades the final product, depleting its aromas and enzymes. Insists that the Honey Directive should prohibit this vacuum evaporation process for honeys.
Amendment 51 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 g (new)
Recital 3 g (new)
(3g) Noticing with concern Heat treatment above 40°C (± 5°C) causes degradation of certain constituents of the honey. The indicators currently used, namely HMF and the diastase index, make it possible to evaluate the significant degradation of honeys but do not make it possible to highlight the degradation of more sensitive honey constituents such as invertase. Consumer must be able to differentiate between honeys not exposed to treatments involving heating above 40°C (± 5°C) and other honeys. The words "virgin honey or unheated honey" must thus appear on the label. In order to control the absence of thermal degradation of a honey, a minimum threshold must be set for the presence of invertase in honey, an enzyme that is much more sensitive and degrades very rapidly once high temperatures are reached.
Amendment 64 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12a) Whereas Annex to Directive 2001/112/EC lists in Part II, Point 2 ingredients that may be used in manufacturing of products covered by the Directive. Limited amount of ingredients are allowed to be used in manufacturing of fruit juices and fruit nectars. There is an increasing consumer interest in innovative products that contain other ingredients from natural sources such as spices and aromatic herbs (which are already allowed in tomato juice), providing a new taste to the consumer. Since organoleptic characteristics may change, the name of the ingredient should accompany the legal name to better inform consumers in line with the Regulation (EU) 1169/2011.
Amendment 71 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2
(1a) paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: 2. the product names referred to in Annex I, points 2 and 3, shall apply only to the products defined therein and shall be used in trade to designate them. These names may be replaced by the simple product name ‘honey’, except in the case of "comb honey", "honey with pieces of comb" and "industrial honey".
Amendment 74 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – introductory part
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – introductory part
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – points a, b, c (new), d (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – points a, b, c (new), d (new)
(2) in paragraph 4, points (a) and (b) are replaced by the following and points (c) and (d) are added:
Amendment 88 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point a
(a) The country of origin where the honey has been harvested shall be indicated on the label and on the front of the package close to the commercial name of the product. If the honey originates in more than one country, the countries of origin where the honey has been harvested shall be indicated on the front label of packs containing more than 25 g in descending order and with their respective percentage in the blend;
Amendment 103 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
(b) For the purpoexcept in the cases of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 and in particular Articles 12 to 15 thereof, the particulars to be indicated according to point (a) of this paragraph shall be considered as mandatory particulars in accordance with Article 9 of that Regulation.honey intended for industry, these names may be supplemented by indications relating to: - floral or vegetable origin, if the product comes entirely or essentially from the origin indicated and has the organoleptic, physico-chemical and microscopic characteristics thereof, - regional, territorial or topographical origin, if the product comes entirely from the origin indicated, - specific quality criteria.
Amendment 106 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point b a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 4 – point b a (new)
(ba) For honeys produced and imported into the EU, each honey marketed under an identification other than that of the harvesting beekeeper must have an identifier linked to a block- chain traceability system enabling the competent authorities to trace the entire history of the honey back to the harvesting beekeepers or operators in the case of imported honeys. Any personal information that may be included in the traceability system will only be accessible to consumers with the prior agreement of the producers of the batch or batches in question.
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 2– paragraph 4– point b b (new)
Article 2– paragraph 4– point b b (new)
(bb) except for honeys intended for industrial use, these names may be supplemented by indications referring to the absence of significant heat treatment. The term referring to the absence of significant heat treatment such as "raw honey" or "unheated honey" may be included on the label on the front of the commercial packaging of the honey if no heat treatment has degraded highly sensitive enzymes such as invertase, from harvesting to potting, while complying with the conditions referred to in Annex II, points 6 (diastase index and hydroxymethylfurfural content) and 7 (invertase index).
Amendment 116 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 3
Article 3
Article 3 of Directive 2001/110/EC is amended as follows: In the case of honey intended for industry, bulk containers, packaging and sales documentation shall clearly indicate the full product name as set out in point 3 of Annex I.
Amendment 121 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Directive 2001/110/EC
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 of Directive 2001/110/EC is amended as follows: The first sentence of Article 4 of Directive 2001/110/EC is replaced by the following: The Commission may adopt methods for verifying the compliance of honey with the provisions of Directive 2001/110/EC and of this Directive, including the implementation of blockchain-type traceability incorporating a minimum of criteria (criteria set out in Annex 3). These methods shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7(2) of Directive 2001/110/EC.
Amendment 131 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c
Directive 2001/112/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 4
Article 3 – paragraph 4
Without prejudice to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council**, the statement ‘no added sugars’, ‘no fruit juices contain added sugars’ may appear on the label in , or any other same field of vision astatement likely to have the nsame of the products referred to in Part I, point 1, of Annex I to this Directivemeaning for the consumer, may appear on the label.
Amendment 139 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point d
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point d
Directive 2001/112/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 6
Article 3 – paragraph 6
6. Without prejudice to Article 22 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 for mixtures of fruit juice and fruit juice from concentrate, reduced-sugars fruit juice and reduced-sugars fruit juice from concentrate, and for fruit nectar obtained entirely or partly from one or more concentrated products, the labelling shall bear the words ‘from concentrate(s)’ or ‘partially from concentrate(s)’, as appropriate. That information shall be entered close to the product name, standing out well from any background, in clearly visible characters.;
Amendment 159 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – paragraph 1 a (new)
Annex I – paragraph 1 a (new)
Directive 2001/110/EC
Annex 1 – paragraph 2 – point b – point viii
Annex 1 – paragraph 2 – point b – point viii
Annex I to Directive 2001/110/EC is amended as follows: In paragraph 2, point (b)(viii) is deleted and replaced by the following: (viii) raw or unheated honey: the honey obtained which has been extracted from the combs, decanted and then, if necessary, sieved. Honey so designated has not been heated to the extent that its enzymes and other thermally sensitive elements are degraded to such an extent that they no longer comply with the criteria laid down in points 6 and 7 of Annex II.
Amendment 167 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Directive 2001/112/EC
Annex 1 – part 1 – point 6 a
Annex 1 – part 1 – point 6 a
The product obtained from the product defined in point 1(a) where naturally occurring sugars have been removduced by at least 30 % by using a process authorised under the conditions laid down in Part II, point 3, of Annex I, which maintains all the otherthe European Commission Delegated Act. The product maintains essential physical, chemical, organoleptical and nutritional characteristics of an average type of juice of the fruit from which it comes, defined in the European Commission Delegated Act. Flavour, pulp, and cells obtained by suitable physical means from the same species of fruit may be restored to the reduced-sugar fruit juice.
Amendment 171 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Directive 2001/112/EC
Annex 1 – part 1 – point 6 b
Annex 1 – part 1 – point 6 b
The product obtained from the products defined in point 1(b) or point 2 and/or in point 6(c), where naturally occurring sugars have been removduced by at least 30 % by using a process authorised under the conditions laid down in point 3 of Part II of Annex I, which maintains all the otherthe European Commission Delegated Act, and that have been reconstituted with potable water that meets the criteria set out in Directive 98/83/EC. The product maintains essential physical, chemical, organoleptical and nutritional characteristics of an average type of juice of the fruit from which it comes, and that have been reconstituted with potable water that meets the criteria set out in Directive 98/83/ECdefined in the European Commission Delegated Act. Flavour, pulp, and cells obtained by suitable physical means from the same species of fruit may be restored to the reduced-sugar fruit juice from concentrate.
Amendment 172 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a
Directive 2001/112/EC
Annex 1 – part 1 – point 6 b
Annex 1 – part 1 – point 6 b
The mixing of reduced-sugar fruit juice from concentrate with fruit juice,d fruit juice, reduced- sugars fruit juice, concentrated reduced- sugars fruit juice, fromuit purée and/or concentrate,d fruit purée and/or fruit purée from concentrate is authorised in the production of reduced-sugar fruit juice from concentrate.; is authorised in the production of reduced-sugars fruit juice from concentrate.’; c) concentrated reduced-sugars fruit juice The product obtained from the products defined in point 6(a) by the physical removal of a specific proportion of the water content, and/ or the product defined in point (2) where naturally occurring sugars have been reduced by at least 30 % by using a process authorised under the conditions laid down in the European Commission Delegated Act. The product maintains essential physical, chemical, organoleptical and nutritional characteristics of an average type of concentrated juice of the fruit from which it comes, defined in the European Commission Delegated Act. Where the product is intended for direct consumption, the removal of water shall be at least 50 % of the water content. Flavour, pulp, and cells obtained by suitable physical means from the same species of fruit may be restored to the concentrated reduced-sugar fruit juice.
Amendment 185 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b – point i – indent 4 a (new)
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b – point i – indent 4 a (new)
Directive 2001/112/EC
Annex 1 – part 2 – point 2 – indent 8 a (new)
Annex 1 – part 2 – point 2 – indent 8 a (new)
– The following indent is added: - Spices and aromatic herbs For products made only from products listed in Annex I and spices and/or herbs, a descriptive name in line with Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 should be “[name Annex I] with (added) [name of the spice/herb]”.
Amendment 188 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b – point i – indent 4 b (new) Directive 2001/112/EC
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b – point i – indent 4 b (new) Directive 2001/112/EC
– the following indent is added: - Fiber For products made only from products listed in Annex I and fiber, a descriptive name in line with Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 should be “[name Annex I] with (added) fiber”
Amendment 191 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b – point ii – indent 1 a (new)
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b – point ii – indent 1 a (new)
Directive 2001/112/EC
Annex 1 – part 2 – point 3 – indent 4
Annex 1 – part 2 – point 3 – indent 4
– Indent 4 is replaced as follows: Enzyme preparations: pectinases (for breakdown of pectin), proteinases (for breakdown of proteins), and amylases (for breakdown of starch) and cellulases (for breakdown of cellulose) meeting the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1332/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food enzymes (1);
Amendment 196 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b – point ii – indent 2
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b – point ii – indent 2
Directive 2001/112/EC
Annex 1 – part 2 – point 3 – indent 12 a (new)
Annex 1 – part 2 – point 3 – indent 12 a (new)
– Processes to remove naturally occurring sugars, to the extent that they maintain all the other essential physical, chemical, organoleptical and nutritional characteristics of an average type of juice of the fruit from which it comes: membrane filtration, yeast fermentation. enzymatic process;
Amendment 203 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – paragraph 1 b (new)
Annex I – paragraph 1 b (new)
Directive 2001/110/EC
Annex 2 – paragraphs 2 and 3
Annex 2 – paragraphs 2 and 3
Annex II to Directive 2001/110/EC is amended as follows: In paragraph 2, the introductory text is amended as follows: When placed on the market as honey or used in any product intended for human consumption, honey shall not have added to it any food ingredient, including food additives, nor shall any other additions be made other than honey. Honey must, as far as possible, be free from organic or inorganic matters foreign to its composition. With the exception of point 3 of Annex I, it must not have any foreign tastes or odour, have begun to ferment, have an artificially changed acidity or have been heated in such a way that the natural enzymes have been either destroyed or significantly inactivated, or have been exposed to vacuum evaporation. Honey, when marketed as such or used in any product intended for human consumption, must comply with the compositional characteristics set out in points 1 to 6. In addition, when marketed as "raw honey" or "unheated honey", honey must also comply with the compositional characteristics set out in point 7. In paragraph 3, the introductory text "Without prejudice to point 2(b)(viii) of Annex I, neither pollen nor any other constituent particular to honey, may be removed except where this is unavoidable in the removal of foreign inorganic or organic matter." is replaced by the following: "No significant change in the pollen count or pollen spectrum of pollen smaller than 100 µm is permitted. No constituents of honey smaller than 100 µm may be removed. A new composition criterion (7) is added to Annex II. 7. invertase index (Gontarski unit) for "raw honeys" or "unheated honeys". Determined after processing and blending. - generally, not less than 50 U/kg - honeys with a low natural enzyme content, not less than 25 U/kg
Amendment 204 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I a (new)
Annex I a (new)
Directive 2001/110/EC
Annex 2 a (new)
Annex 2 a (new)
Annex IIa MEASURES RELATING TO HONEY TRACABILITY Guidelines The identification data that must accompany honey throughout the food chain, from producer to consumer, and which must be entered into the blockchain system are as follows: 1. Harvesting beekeeper references 2. Lot defined by the harvesting beekeeper 3. The specific identifier assigned by the non-European operator ensuring the sale to the EU market of batches of honey harvested in a non-EU country. 4. The unique identifier (code) of each operator in the food chain who purchases and processes honey from the beekeeper- harvester. Importers of honey into the EU are treated in the same way as operators and the traceability of honeys applies to them too. 5. Year the honey was harvested if sold in bulk from the beekeeper down the chain. 6. The year of blending if honeys from different geographical origins (country of origin) are blended. 7. In the case of a blend of honeys, indication of the percentages of the different batches of honeys identified by their identifier and creation of a new identifier linked to the initial information. 8. Specific floral or plant origin if mentioned on the packaging of the honey marketed. 9. Geographical origin corresponding to the origin indicated on the marketed honey. The indication of origin must meet at least the requirements of Article 2(4)(a), i.e. the country of harvest. The information on origin may not be modified under any circumstances and must always appear when the honey is mixed or in transit. All packaging of blended honey, from the barrel to the jar, must be labelled with the last identifier assigned to the honey, so that it can be linked to all the honeys of origin and to the various blends made by the intermediary operator(s).
Amendment 254 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b
Directive 2001/113/EC
Annex 1 – part 1 – point b – indent 2
Annex 1 – part 1 – point b – indent 2
– The name ‘jelly marmalade’ may be used where the product defined as citrus marmalade contains no insoluble matter except possibly for small quantities of finely sliced peel. In the name 'citrus marmalade', the term 'citrus fruit' may be replaced by the name of the citrus fruit used.;
Amendment 256 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Directive 2001/113/EC
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 2
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 2
(2a) In Annex II, the second indent is replaced by the following: ‘– fruit juice, whether or not concentrated: only in jams’;
Amendment 257 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 2 b (new)
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 2 b (new)
Directive 2001/113/EC
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 4
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 4
(2b) In Annex II, the fourth indent is replaced by the following: ‘- red fruit juices, whether or not concentrated: only in jam and extra jam manufactured from rosehips, strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, redcurrants, plums and rhubarb,