Seminar on labelling

On 15 and 16 September 2006, the AER Committees for Social Cohesion, Social Affairs and Public Health and for Regional Policies will jointly organise a Conference on Regional labels as a tool for the promotion of regional quality produce. This Conference was held at the kind invitation of Stavros Arnaoutakis, Member of the European Parliament, and will take place in Kriti (GR), in Heraklion.

At a time when the European Union is reviewing its policy on quality labels to comply with WTO rules and in the context of a wide reflection on the role and potential of food labels, this event aims to analyse the recent European developments in the field of labelling and to evaluate the various opportunities offered by labels for a Region in Europe.

Quality labelled products are widely considered as an important tool for promoting the sustainable development of rural areas in particular, and can also significantly contribute to a regions overall economic development.

However, the regions need to address issues such as: the multiplication of labels, the complex certification systems that apply and their resulting costs, in particular for SMEs, as well as the extent to which creating common European standards actually promotes quality regional produce, rather than impede it.