Greek yogurt is produced only in Greece, Commission warns Prague

It is a fundamental requirement of the EU rules on food information that “food labeling must not mislead consumers as to the characteristics of the food including its identity & origin”

“The Commission is in contact with the Czech authorities on this matter and expressed its position in a detailed opinion that was transmitted to the Czech authorities,” the EU official said.

Greek Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Evangelos Apostolou sent a letter to the EU’s agriculture and food safety Commissioners, Phil Hogan and Vytenis Andriukaitis, expressing his
disagreement with a 2015 Czech Republic’s draft decree laying down requirements for milk and dairy products, ice creams and edible fats and oils to the Commission.

For Athens, both the name “Greek” yogurt and “Greek-style” yogurt is contrary to the EU Regulation on the provision of food information to consumers, which says consumers should not be misled.

According to EURACTIV the EU executive is currently examining two letters on the actions of the Czech authorities on this issue received by the Greek government and the Federation of Greek Dairy Industries and reflecting on the follow-up actions on this matter.

The product name “Greek yogurt” is not protected by a geographical indication. But a Commission source said in July that it was a fundamental requirement of the Union rules on food information that “food labeling must not mislead consumers as to the characteristics of the food including its identity and origin”, the spokesperson said.

Speaking at the EU agriculture ministers’ council last week, Apostolou stressed that high-quality food was a priority for European consumers, regardless of the country or region they live.

He referred to the dual quality food discussion in Europe, claiming that there may be issues of indirect consumer misleading or unfair business practices, but no security or misleading labeling issues have been identified for these products, he explained.