The European Commission is considering a request by Portugal for the introduction of the mandatory labelling of the origin of imported dairy products sold in the country.

Portugal revealed last month its agriculture minister, Luís Capoulas Santos, was “negotiating” on the issue with EU officials.

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A European Parliament source confirmed to just-food today (5 September) Portugal has now formally asked the Commission to give the green light to introduce mandatory labelling. The European Commission, which will assess whether the proposal complies with EU competition rules, has yet to give its response.

Capoulas Santos “intends to make the indication of origin on the label of milk and dairy products mandatory to inform consumers and promote the recovery of domestic production”, Portugal’s health ministry told a national radio station last month. In a related development, he has also called for a return to a milk quotas in the EU if the bloc is to “save” its dairy sector.

Portugal’s proposals follow similar bids by other EU states. Earlier this year, the Italian government signed a legislative decree making origin labels mandatory for milk and dairy products sold in Italy. The labels would note the country origin of their milk and where packaging and processing took place. Italy said the law was designed to protect Italy’s milk sector, which has suffered from falling prices, notably since EU production quotas were scrapped. 

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Last month, Lithuania said it too wanted to introduce the mandatory labelling of the origin of imported dairy products.

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However, the Commission has been accused of failing to defend “the core principles” of the EU, after giving France the green light for a two-year trial of mandatory country-of-origin labelling for meat and dairy ingredients used in processed food sold in the country.