Slovenian rule concerning the quality of vinegar and diluted acetic acid

Question for written answer  E-001145/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Paolo De Castro (S&D)

On 2 December 2020, through a notification to the Commission (No 2020/0749/SI - C50A), the Slovenian authorities initiated the procedure provided for in Directive (EU) 2015/1535 for the approval of a rule on the quality of vinegar and of diluted acetic acid, laying down the conditions for quality, labelling and categorisation that must be met by Slovenian vinegars.

This rule poses several problems concerning authorised sales names, in particular the introduction in Article 14 of the definitions of ‘herbal vinegar’ for all vinegars produced from plants or parts of plants and ‘balsamic vinegar’ for all vinegars containing fruit juices or musts.

In addition to the serious harm to the Italian products ‘Aceto balsamico di Modena PGI’, ‘Aceto Balsamico di Modena PDO’ and ‘Aceto balsamico tradizionale di Reggio Emilia PDO’ which would be caused by the introduction of the name ‘balsamic vinegar’, not to mention the infringement of Article 13 of Regulation (EU) No 2012/1151 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs, the introduction of other controversial sales names, such as herbal vinegar, mixed vinegar or diluted wine vinegar, would also mean that consumers are not being properly informed.

Given its clear incompatibilities with Regulation (EU) No 2011/1169 on the provision of information to consumers, with aforementioned Regulation (EU) No 2012/1151 and with the standard CEN 13188, will the Commission object to the adoption of this rule by the Slovenian authorities?

Supporter[1]

• [1] This question is supported by a Member other than the author: Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D)