On the Commission delegated regulation of 16 October 2025 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2429 as regards origin labelling for fruit and… vegetables originating in the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara

B100506/2025

European Parliament resolution on the Commission delegated regulation of 16 October 2025 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2429 as regards origin labelling for fruit and vegetables originating in the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara

(C(2025)06948 — 2025/2943(DEA))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to the Commission delegated regulation (C(2025)06948),

–having regard to Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council,

–having regard to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2429,

–having regard to Rule 114(3) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.whereas in its judgments in Cases C-104/16 P and C-266/16 the Court of Justice clarified that the territory of Western Sahara constitutes a non-self-governing territory distinct from that of the Kingdom of Morocco; whereas in its judgment in Case C-399/22 the Court of Justice further clarified that the territory of Western Sahara must be regarded as a separate customs territory for the purposes of Article 60 of the Union Customs Code and, consequently, of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 and of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 (replaced by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2429) as regards the indication of the country of origin on the label of fresh fruit and vegetables harvested in that territory, which may designate only Western Sahara as such origin;

B.whereas the proposed delegated regulation does not ensure that fruit and vegetables originating from Western Sahara are clearly identified with their true country of origin, allowing ambiguous labelling that is contrary to Union legislation on food information to consumers;

C.whereas Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council expressly prohibits any food information that may mislead consumers as to the origin of food products;

D.whereas the proposed delegated regulation foresees a derogation to Article 76 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, allowing regions rather than countries to appear on labels, and, whereas, such an approach risks creating a dangerous precedent that would leave consumers and farmers in the Union unprotected in the future; whereas the delegated act cannot allow ambiguous regional references that suggest a Moroccan origin, given that customs duties depend on the country, not the region, of origin;

E.whereas the lack of an explicit, precise and verifiable territorial reference for products originating from Western Sahara could facilitate unfair commercial practices, undermine the confidence of consumers and operators, and weaken traceability and legal certainty in the Union market;

1.Objects to the Commission delegated regulation;

2.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and to notify it that the delegated regulation cannot enter into force;

3.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and to the governments and parliaments of the Member States.