Germany and Austria are putting pressure on the expansion of mandatory origin labels for food on the European market. At the meeting of EU agriculture ministers on Monday, the new German agriculture minister, Cem Özdemir, from the Greens and his Austrian counterpart, Elisabeth Köstinger (ÖVP) according to the ministry, present a joint initiative.
It aims to ensure “fair income for farmers”. To this end, the EU Commission is asked, among other things, to quickly submit a proposal for a more comprehensive labeling of origin.
Köstinger said that origin labeling is “an imperative tool to add value to our farmers”. The next step is to gain allies for it. Therefore, a “fairness alliance” was founded with Germany.