Question to the EC: ‘Foie Gras’ in the EU (I)

See Francisco Guerreiro’s question to the European Commission and the written answer on the production of ‘Foie Gras’ in the EU (part I).

Subject: ‘Foie Gras’ in the EU (I)

According to information provided by DG AGRI, imports of frozen fatty liver from Ukraine to the EU increased from around 1 tonne in 2014 to around 50 tonnes in 2018. This translates into almost double the total Belgian ‘foie gras’ production.

In order to be regarded as ‘foie gras’, these livers must meet a minimum weight requirement (as defined in Article 1(3) of Regulation No 543/2008) and the animals must therefore be force fed since such weights would not be attained naturally. 

As the Commission knows, this practice is illegal in 23 Member States, in accordance with the animal welfare requirements of Directive 58/98.

1. Can the Commission provide an estimate of the number of animals whose livers were imported from Ukraine into the EU in 2018 as frozen fatty livers? 

2. Can the Commission provide any information concerning the value of such imports? 

3. Can the Commission say what use is made of these livers after importation into the EU?

Answer in writing

The Commission can confirm that imports of frozen fatty livers of geese from Ukraine into the EU ranged from 1 tonne in 2014 to 56 tonnes in 2018. According to available trade data for 2019 (period January-November), those imports decreased to 21 tonnes. Information on the corresponding number of animals from which those livers were obtained is not available.

The value of those imports ranged from EUR 14 500 in 2014 to EUR 1.2 million in 2018.

The abovementioned information is based on publicly available trade statistics from Eurostat-Comext. The Commission does not have information on the final use of those imported products.

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