Abstract
In the international scene, country-of-origin labelling (COOL) is a controversial issue. We aim at defining criteria for the country-of-origin marking COOL for processed foods and figure out the effect of COOL on international trade. We conduct qualitative and systematic research using the Delphi method. The panel of experts in food labelling and food policy was composed of 19 members in 13 countries. The experts actively discussed topics ranging from the possible protectionism of COOL to the desirability of worldwide standardisation of COOL, providing comprehensive perspectives on the issues concerning COOL. The essential consensus is that multiple countries of origin marking can give accurate information about the origin of food produced by two or more countries, avoiding misinformation for consumers. This research provides valuable insights for the formulation of COOL policy in various countries. The main limitation is due to the absence of the view of producer associations.
Highlights
Motivation and legislative provisions on ingredient origin statement The economic globalisation of the food sector means active international trade of foodstuffs and the phenomenon that a foodstuff is manufactured in a country with ingredients produced in another country
The functions of country-of-origin labelling (COOL) and trade protectionism In addition to supporting that consumers have the right to accurate information on the origin of food, 15 participating experts agree that COOL of primary materials can increase consumersâ awareness of the world we live in, while one does not think so
If a country does not experience commercial fraud based on false country-of-origin statements, its market does not demand mandatory COOL of ingredients, so its COOL of the main ingredient can be voluntary
Summary
Motivation and legislative provisions on ingredient origin statement The economic globalisation of the food sector means active international trade of foodstuffs and the phenomenon that a foodstuff is manufactured in a country with ingredients produced in another country. We began to pay attention to the issue of âcountry-of-originâ labelling when we noticed misinformation about the origin of the blend of extra virgin olive oil exported from Italy to China. In February 2011, the first author saw in several supermarkets in Guangzhou (China) olive oil bottles labelled in Chinese âCountry-of-origin: Italyâ, while the same oils in Italy were commonly known as âolio comunitarioâ or Community oil, that is, oil produced in the EU. We discussed the origin marking with four Italian suppliers of olive oil, of which two are bottling companies of Community oil and Italian oil and the other two are producers of Italian olive oil. Since the origin indication is complicated yet important when the Community oil bottled in Italy is exported to China, we decided to conduct our research on the country-of-origin labelling of food produced by two or more countries
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