The Italian media has reported that the EU is preparing to “recognise the Alto Adige apple in order to stop the invasion of "fake" apples from China carrying the same name”.
Fines of up to €20,000 for incorrect labeling are expected to enforced. The "Mela Alto Adige" will be the third protected Italian apple (the other two are Mela Val di Non and Mela Annurca Campana).
China's exports of apples to Italy have increased by 440 per cent in a year, said one online report. This year every European will be eating at least one Chinese apple.
The forecast comes from Italian trade association Coldiretti, which said if the same rate of increase occurs in 2005 as has been happening over the past few years, then each of the 450 million people living in Europe will be tasting at least one apple grown in China.
The EU label is described as “a fundamental instrument to defend the apple against fake apples, partly thanks to the recent introduction of heavy fines.”
Recent controls revealed that 10 per cent of all fruit checked was incorrectly labelled. In six month's time, pending appeals, the Alto Adige apple will be officially included in the EU protected products list.
The name "Mela Alto Adige" or "Südtiroler Apfel" will then only be legally used for fruit from 72 municipalities in the Bolzano province, which produces the following varieties: Braeburn, Elstar, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Idared, Jonagold, Morgenduft, Red Delicious and Stayman Winesap.
No comments yet