Brussels sparks 'made in EU' debate

Debate is raging over an EU investigation into the feasibility of a ‘Made in EU’ label which could replace more classic, national denominations like ‘Made in Germany’.

Brussels has yet to make any firm proposals concerning a standardised, pan-EU label but already industry groups as well as individual states are up in arms at the plan which is likely to be costly and which could spell an end to much coveted national marks of origin.

“There are issues worth examining to see if an EU mark of origin is something that we could do in the European Union,” a Brussels spokesman said on Monday.

She went on to stress that the investigation was only at the stage of a “very simple analysis of the advantages and disadvantages” and concrete results are not expected until the end of February at the earliest.

Opponents to the EU scheme highlight the costs it will incur as well as the added restrictions of not being able to promote products on a national basis.

Others fear the scrapping of national marks of origin like ‘Made in Italy’ and ‘Made in Germany’ which have come to denote style and dependability respectively.

“Products throughout the world are recognised as high quality goods by the “Made in Britain” label,” says UK Conservative MEP Jonathan Evans.

“These new proposals could mean the end of this proud tradition and make it difficult for firms to promote their products as British.”

Brussels must decide whether the label will be compulsory or voluntary, how it will fit in with other protected names such as those for wines and spirits and whether it will be applied to all products or just some.

“We don’t have a preference for a solution. We don’t even have a solution,” commented a Brussels spokesman.

The textiles sector which suffers many counterfeiting attempts is pushing hardest for the label and is also backed by states such as Greece and Italy.

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