Message 001
Communication from the Commission - TRIS/(2026) 1522
Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Notification: 2026/0281/FR
Notification of a draft text from a Member State
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Does not open the delays - N'ouvre pas de délai - Kein Fristbeginn - Не се предвижда период на прекъсване - Nezahajuje prodlení - Fristerne indledes ikke - Καμμία έναρξη προθεσμίας - No abre el plazo - Viivituste perioodi ei avata - Määräaika ei ala tästä - Ne otvara razdoblje kašnjenja - Nem nyitja meg a késéseket - Non fa decorrere la mora - Atidėjimai nepradedami - Atlikšanas laikposms nesākas - Ma jiftaħx il-perijodi ta’ dewmien - Geen termijnbegin - Nie otwiera opóźnień - Não inicia o prazo - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare - Nezačína oneskorenia - Ne uvaja zamud - Inleder ingen frist - Ní osclaíonn sé na moilleanna
MSG: 20261522.EN
1. MSG 001 IND 2026 0281 FR EN 08-06-2026 FR NOTIF
2. France
3A. Ministères économiques et financiers
Direction générale des entreprises
SCIDE/SQUALPI/PNRP
Bât. Sieyès -Teledoc 143
61, Bd Vincent Auriol
75703 PARIS Cedex 13
d9834.france@finances.gouv.fr
3B. Ministère de l'agriculture, de l'agro-alimentaire et de la souveraineté alimentaire
Direction générale de la performance économique et environnementale des entreprises
SCPE/SDC
3 rue Barbet de Jouy
75349 PARIS 07 SP
4. 2026/0281/FR - C60A - Labelling
5. Mandatory labelling of the origin of meat used as an ingredient in foodstuffs.
6. Meat from cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and poultry species, including meat preparations and mechanically separated meat, used as ingredients in pre-packaged foodstuffs.
7.
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers: Articles 40, 43, 44 and 45
not applicable
8. The measure aims to make mandatory the labelling of the origin of meat from cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and poultry species, including meat preparations and mechanically separated meat, used as an ingredient in pre-packaged foods.
It provides that companies should give preference to the indication of the country of origin of meat used as an ingredient in foodstuffs. However, derogations allow them to limit themselves to an indication such as ‘EU’ or ‘non-EU’, or even ‘EU or non-EU’.
Products manufactured or marketed in another Member State of the European Union or in a third country are not subject to this measure.
This measure will remain in force until 31 December 2030.
9. This measure is taken pursuant to Article 39 of the INCO Regulation. This allows Member States to adopt measures requiring mandatory labelling for specific types or categories of foodstuffs, justified by at least one of the following reasons: protection of public health, protection of consumers, prevention of misleading practices, or prevention of unfair competition. Proof that the majority of consumers attach significant importance to this information must also be provided. This measure requiring the mandatory indication of the country of origin or place of provenance of foodstuffs may only be introduced if there is a proven link between certain properties of the foodstuff and its origin or place of provenance.
9a. The following three points demonstrate that all the justifications requested by Article 39 of the INCO Regulation are complied with:
Link between the characteristics of meat of European origin and its origin
Paragraphs II and III of the draft Article provide that companies shall give preference to the indication of the country of origin of meat used as an ingredient in foodstuffs. However, the provisions set out in the draft article allow them to limit themselves to an indication such as ‘EU’ or ‘non-EU’, or even ‘EU or non-EU’. Consequently, the only truly mandatory requirement of the article is that the product must be classified into at least one of these three categories (‘EU’, ‘non-EU’ or ‘EU or non-EU’); the company then has the choice of either sticking to this minimum requirement or specifying the country of origin.
As it turns out, since 1 January 2006, a set of European regulations has been introduced (the ‘Hygiene Package’) covering the entire food supply chain – from primary production through to distribution to the end consumer. Two regulations specifically govern animal husbandry practices and set stringent standards for food of animal origin:
Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin, applies to all food business operators handling or processing food of animal origin;
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 concerning, inter alia, rules on animal health and welfare.
In addition, the following may also be cited:
– Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 laying down rules on the transport of animals, imposing maximum journey times, mandatory rest periods, precise loading densities and the maintenance of specific temperatures;
– Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing, which requires animals to be free from all avoidable pain, distress or suffering;
- Regulation (EU) 2019/6 on veterinary medicinal products, prohibiting the administration of antibiotics for the purpose of promoting growth or increasing yield.
This European regulation imposes strict standards that affect the animal’s metabolism and physiology throughout its life and right up to slaughter, as well as the characteristics of the meat during handling and processing.
On the basis of these regulations, it is undeniable that products of animal origin from the European Union have acquired different characteristics in relation to the same products from third countries.
For example, studies carried out by researchers at INRAE, amongst others, confirm that reducing stress during the rearing and slaughter of animals has a positive impact on meat quality1.
French and European consumer expectations
For over a decade, numerous studies have shown that consumers have a strong expectation that the origin of ingredients in foodstuffs should be labelled.
For example, a survey carried out in 2023 by the Appinio research agency on behalf of the Collectif En Vérité, an organisation campaigning for transparency regarding the origin of foodstuffs2, showed that 86% of consumers consider it important to have information about the origin of products when making a purchase.
According to the 2025 Barometer on ‘Les Français, l’agriculture et l’alimentation’ by Opinion Way, almost 69% of respondents say they are willing to pay more for a regional product or for a 100% French product3.
European consumers also attach significant importance to the origin of products. For example, the EFSA Eurobarometer of April 2025 on food safety in the European Union.
9b. Products manufactured or marketed in another Member State of the European Union or in a third country are not subject to this measure. It will therefore have no impact on cross-border services and trade.
National or European regulations do not currently lay down any general obligation to indicate the origin of agricultural products used as an ingredient in pre-packaged foods.
This measure is the least restrictive way of achieving the set objective, as the only truly mandatory requirement is that the operator must ensure that foodstuffs fall into at least one of the following three labelling categories: ‘EU’, ‘non-EU’ or ‘EU or non-EU’. The company then has the option of sticking to this minimum requirement or specifying the country of origin. This obligation is therefore the least restrictive possible.
9c. There is no other way of achieving the objective pursued, namely to inform the consumer. The impact on trade with other Member States is not disproportionate in relation to the objective of transparency and traceability for consumers. Origin labelling responds to strong demands from European consumers for traceability of meat products. It helps to support and restore consumer confidence, in particular following food scandals. Furthermore, the provision does not have a significant effect on trade in terms of the predominant share of intra-Community trade in the products concerned.
10. References: There are no references.
11. No
12.
13. No
14. No
15. No
16.
TBT aspects: No
SPS aspects: No
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European Commission
Contact point Directive (EU) 2015/1535
email: grow-dir2015-1535-central@ec.europa.eu
