A quality product
The European Federation of Foie Gras attaches great importance to offering to European consumers and restaurateurs the quality expected from a delicacy like foie gras.
The current definition of foie gras laid down by EU Regulation 543/2008 allows consumers to make informed choices and not to be misled. Foie gras products which do not comply with the following legal requirements cannot be sold on the European market:
Article 1, point 3 of the European regulation – Definition of foie gras
“The livers of geese, or of ducks of the species Cairina muschata or Cairina muschata x Anas platyrhynchos which have been fed in such a way as to produce hepatic fatty cellular hypertrophy. The birds from which such livers are removed shall have been completely bled, and the livers shall be of a uniform colour. The livers shall be of the following weight:
- duck livers shall weigh at least 300 g net,
- goose livers shall weigh at least 400 g net.”
The European foie gras sector vigorously supports the maintenance of this definition in all its components for several reasons:
- Foie gras remains a prestigious and high value product. This is clearly recognized by the European regulation: “the high value and consequent risk of fraudulent practices make it necessary to lay down especially precise minimum marketing standards.” (Paragraph 5 of the recitals)
- Consumers must be properly protected and informed and the product they buy must fully meet their expectations. The minimum weights of duck and goose livers currently set by the European marketing standards are essential to obtain fatty livers and therefore a tasty product.
Regarding the presence on the market for many years of other products from palmipeds, Euro Foie Gras argues that it would be misleading for consumers to make them believe that a product other than foie gras could have the same intrinsic characteristics. They are different products.