MEP Yannis Maniatis (S&D) has asked the European Commission to assess whether a proposed Australian mandatory nutrition labelling system could create a technical barrier to trade for European olive oil and table olives. In a parliamentary question submitted on 30 June 2026, Maniatis warned that the Health Star Rating (HSR) algorithm, proposed by the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Authority (FSANZ) under Proposal P1067, may mislead consumers and distort competition by failing to account for the bioactive components and health benefits of olive oil and olives, key elements of the UNESCO-recognised Mediterranean diet.
The question, addressed to the Commission, contains three concrete requests: an impact assessment of Proposal P1067 on EU olive oil and table olive exports; a legal opinion on its compatibility with the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade; and a plan to raise the issue in EU-Australia institutional dialogues on technical barriers. Maniatis noted that Australia imported 42,272 tonnes of olive oil in 2024-2025, making it a strategically important market for EU producers, particularly Greece.
The MEP is pushing for the Commission to defend EU geographical indications and traditional products against foreign labelling schemes that he argues are nutritionally reductive. This reflects a broader EU concern about non-tariff barriers in agri-food trade, where third-country standards can disadvantage products with complex health profiles.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether Brussels views the HSR system as a legitimate consumer information tool or a disguised restriction on trade, and whether it will escalate the matter bilaterally or at the WTO.
EU olive oil and table olive producers (especially in Greece, Spain, and Italy) face potential export losses if the HSR system downgrades their products, reducing competitiveness. Australian consumers may lose access to accurate nutritional information on traditional Mediterranean products. EU exporters could face higher compliance costs if they reformulate or relabel. The Commission must balance trade defence with maintaining good bilateral relations with Australia.