Jul
28
Galician mussel sale at a fish market. (Photo: Mejillón de Galicia)
Canned mussels meet consumer information regulations, states ANFACO
SPAIN
Wednesday, July 29, 2015, 02:00 (GMT + 9)
The National Association of Canned Product Manufacturers (ANFACO) ensures that all products developed and marketed as ‘Galician mussel’ meet the legal framework for consumer information.
The entity expressed surprise at the court ruling requiring a canning company to stop including any reference to the autonomous region on the labels of their cans of mussel.
A few days ago Pontevedra Commercial Court sentenced the company Alimentos Javimar for mentioning the origin on their canned mussel labeling.
According to the court decision, by using the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Mejillon de Galicia (Galician Mussel) is contravening the European regulation.
However, ANFACO stresses that “the current legislation on labeling authorises the inclusion of terms related to the origin of the raw material, as From the Galician Estuaries, and other similar terms, when such food product uses as an exclusive ingredient the Galician mussel.”
According to the association, that authorisation “is based precisely on the respect of the legislation informing principles as to labeling.”
In this regard, it recalls that under Decree 124/2010, “this does not cause any errors or misunderstanding to the consumer,” but, on the contrary, “the average consumer is able to interpret and understand such terms”.
ANFACO also emphasizes that canned mussels “could never be part of the Galician Mussel DOP”, since it applies only to fresh produce, not canned products.
The judicial measure requires the canning firm Javimar to withdraw from the market the mussel products whose labels include the terms “from Galician Estuaries”, “made in Galicia” and “packaged in Galicia” and to indemnify the Galician Mussel Regulating Council with EUR 15,000 for damages.
“There is no recall or use of any reputation” emphasizes ANFACO, and adds: “The canning industry has its own entity, which is pre-existing to that of PDO itself, being evident that this is so tortuous control on us, as the value of the mussel is known, in fact, it is on the canned product and not on the protected product. “
Related article:
– Canning firm convicted for violating DOP on labels
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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