EU Proposes Uniform Country of Origin Requirements for Imported Products

October 25, 2010

The European Union is in the process of attempting to promulgate regulations establishing uniform country of origin marking requirements. If enacted, these rules will apply to a specific subset of identified products. 

A draft of this regulation had been around since 2005 but it went nowhere for a while as it was blocked by some member states.  However, on September 29, 2010, the members of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee approved a proposed EU-wide system of country of origin marking for goods imported from third countries. The regulation then went before the full Parliament for a vote on October 21, 2010, where it was amended then passed. It now needs the approval of the EU member states in the Council of Ministers, but some member nations still oppose the idea of a uniform European "made in" law.  If approved by the Council, then the new rules will be applicable in all member states starting one year after publication in the EU Official Journal.

Additional information on the proposal may be obtained here.