92003E0173

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0173/03

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 January 2003)

Subject: Mincemeat and lemon curd

1. Recent newspaper reports have suggested that the European Commission is attempting to ban the terms lemon curd and mincemeat appearing on labels; can the Commission confirm whether this is true?

2. If true, why does the Commission feel the need to change the labelling of these products? And what names would the Commission like to substitute?

3. If not true, can the Commission give an assurance that these products will remain unaffected?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2003)

Within the national legislation of the United Kingdom, lemon curd and mincemeat are defined as follows:

- Lemon curd is a product made, mainly, from an emulsion of edible fats or other oils (or both), sugar, whole egg or egg yolk (or both), and any combination of lemon puree, lemon pulp or lemon;

- Mincemeat is a product made mainly from a sweetening agent, vine fruits, citrus peel, sugar or any other carbohydrate, suet or equivalent fat and vinegar or acetic acid with or without other ingredients.

The use of the terms lemon curd and mincemeat is not prohibited by Community legislation. The Commission has no plans to introduce legislation to ban the use of these terms for the products in question.