title: Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/774 of 28 May 2018 implementing Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria

text:
               29.5.2018

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 131/1

         COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2018/774
   of 28 May 2018
   implementing Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria
   THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
   Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
   Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 of 18 January 2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria and repealing n (EU) No 442/2011 (1), and in particular Article 32(1) thereof,
   Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
   Whereas:

               (1)

               On 18 January 2012, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria.

               (2)

               Based on a review of the measures, the entries for certain persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures as set out in Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 should be updated and amended.

               (3)

               Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 should therefore be amended accordingly,

         HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
   Article 1
   Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 is amended as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.
   Article 2
   This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

      This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
      Done at Brussels, 28 May 2018.

            For the Council

            The President

         F. MOGHERINI

      (1)  OJ L 16, 19.1.2012, p. 1.

      ANNEX
      Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 is amended as follows:

                  I.

                  In Part A (‘Persons’), the following entries are amended as follows:

                              Name

                              Identifying information

                              Reasons

                              Date of listing

                              ‘7.

                           Amjad (
                                 ) Abbas (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Al-Abbas)

                              Head of Political Security in Banyas, involved in violence against demonstrators in Baida.

                              9.5.2011

                              8.

                           Rami (
                                 ) Makhlouf (
                                 )

                              Born: 10 July 1969;
                              Place of birth: Damascus;
                              passport no 000098044;
                              Issue number 002-03-0015187

                              Leading businessman operating in Syria with interests in the telecommunications, financial services, transport and property sectors; he has financial interest in and/or holds senior and executive positions in Syriatel, the leading mobile telephone operator in Syria, the investment funds Al Mashreq, Bena Properties and Cham Holding.
                              He furnishes financing and support to the Syrian regime, through his business interests.
                              He is an influential member of the Makhlouf family and closely connected to the Assad family; cousin of President Bashar al-Assad.

                              9.5.2011

                              9.

                           Abd Al-Fatah (
                                 ) Qudsiyah (
                                 )

                              Born: 1953;
                              Place of birth: Hama;
                              diplomatic passport no D0005788

                              Officer of the rank of Major General in the Syrian Armed Forces in post after May 2011.
                              Deputy Director of the National Security Bureau of the Ba'ath Party. Former Head of Syrian Military Intelligence Directorate. Involved in violent repression of the civilian population in Syria.

                              9.5.2011

                              13.

                           Munzir (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Mundhir, Monzer) Jamil (
                                 ) Al-Assad (
                                 )

                              Date of birth: 1 March 1961;
                              Place of birth: Kerdaha, Latakia Province;
                              passports no 86449 and No 842781

                              Involved in violence against the civilian population as part of the Shabiha militia.

                              9.5.2011

                              19.

                           Iyad (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Eyad) Makhlouf (
                                 )

                              Date of birth: 21 January 1973;
                              Place of birth: Damascus;
                              passport no N001820740

                              Member of the Makhlouf family; son of Mohammed Makhlouf, brother of Hafez and Rami and brother of Ihab Makhlouf; cousin of President Bashar al-Assad.
                              Member of the Syrian security and intelligence services in post after May 2011.
                              An officer in the GID involved in violence against the civilian population in Syria.

                              23.5.2011

                              23.

                           Zoulhima (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Zu al-Himma) Chaliche (
                                 ) (a.k.a., Shalish, Shaleesh) (a.k.a. Dhu al-Himma Shalish)

                              Born: 1951 or 1946 or 1956;
                              Place of birth: Kerdaha

                              Officer of the Syrian security and intelligence services in post after May 2011; Former Head of Presidential Security.
                              Member of the Syrian Armed Forces of the rank of Major General in post after May 2011.
                              Involved in violence against demonstrators.
                              Member of the Assad family: cousin of President Bashar Al-Assad.

                              23.6.2011

                              26.

                           Major General Qasem (
                                 ) Soleimani (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Qasim Soleimany; Qasim Soleimani; Qasem Sulaimani; Qasim Sulaimani; Qasim Sulaymani; Qasem Sulaymani; Kasim Soleimani; Kasim Sulaimani; Kasim Sulaymani; Haj Qasem; Haji Qassem; Sarder Soleimani)

                              Date of birth: 11 March 1957;
                              Place of birth: Qom, Iran (Islamic Republic of);
                              passport no: 008827, issued in Iran.

                              Commander of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC - Qods, involved in providing equipment and support to help the Syrian regime suppress protests in Syria.

                              23.6.2011

                              27.

                           Hossein (
                                 ) Taeb (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Taeb, Hassan; a.k.a. Taeb, Hosein; a.k.a. Taeb, Hossein; a.k.a. Taeb, Hussayn; a.k.a. Hojjatoleslam Hossein Ta'eb)

                              Born: 1963;
                              Place of birth: Tehran, Iran

                              Deputy Commander for Intelligence of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, involved in providing equipment and support to help the Syrian regime suppress protests in Syria.

                              23.6.2011

                              36.

                           Nizar (
                                 ) al-Asaad (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Nizar Asaad)

                              Cousin of Bashar Al-Assad; previously head of the ‘Nizar Oilfield Supplies’ company

                              Very close to key government officials.
                              Financing Shabiha in the region of Latakia.

                              23.8.2011

                              37.

                           Major General Rafiq (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Rafeeq) Shahadah (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Shahada, Shahade, Shahadeh, Chahada, Chahade, Chahadeh, Chahada)

                              Date of birth: 1956;
                              Place of birth: Jablah, Latakia Province

                              Member of the Syrian Armed Forces of the rank of Major General in post after May 2011. Former Head of Syrian Military Intelligence (SMI) Branch 293 (Internal Affairs) in Damascus. Directly involved in repression and violence against the civilian population in Damascus. Advisor to President Bashar Al-Assad for strategic questions and military intelligence.

                              23.8.2011

                              50.

                           Tarif (
                                 ) Akhras (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Al Akhras (
                                 ))

                              Date of birth: 2 June 1951;
                              Place of birth: Homs, Syria;
                              Syrian passport nr. 0000092405

                              Prominent businessman benefiting from and supporting the regime. Founder of the Akhras Group (commodities, trading, processing and logistics) and former Chairman of the Homs Chamber of Commerce. Close business relations with President Al-Assad's family. Member of the Board of the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce. Provided logistical support for the regime (buses and tank loaders).

                              2.9.2011

                              53.

                           Adib (
                                 ) Mayaleh (
                                 ) (a.k.a. André Mayard)

                              Born: 15 May 1955;
                              Place of birth: Bassir

                              Former Governor and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Syria.
                              Adib Mayaleh controlled the Syrian banking sector and managed the Syrian money supply through the issue and withdrawal of bank notes and control of the Foreign Exchange rate value of the Syrian Pound. Through his role at the Central Bank of Syria, Adib Mayaleh provided economic and financial support to the Syrian regime.
                              Former Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade in power after May 2011.

                              15.5.2012

                              68.

                           Bassam (
                                 ) Sabbagh (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Al Sabbagh (
                                 ))

                              Date of birth: 24 August 1959;
                              Place of birth: Damascus;
                              Address: Kasaa, Anwar al Attar Street, al Midani building, Damascus;
                              Syrian passport no 004326765 issued 2 November 2008, valid until November 2014.

                              Legal and financial adviser and manages affairs of Rami Makhlouf and Khaldoun Makhlouf. Involved with Bashar al-Assad in funding a real estate project in Latakia. Provides financial support for the regime.

                              14.11.2011

                              79.

                           Major General Talal (
                                 ) Makhluf (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Makhlouf)

                              Former commander of the 105th Brigade of the Republican Guards. Current commander general of the Republican Guards. Member of the Syrian Armed Forces of the rank of Major General in post after May 2011. Military official involved in the violence in Damascus.

                              1.12.2011

                              80.

                           Major General Nazih (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Nazeeh) Hassun (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Hassoun)

                              Officer of the rank of Major General in the Syrian Armed Forces in post after May 2011. Head of the Political Security Directorate of the Syrian security services in post after May 2011. Responsible for violent repression against the civilian population in Syria.

                              1.12.2011

                              109.

                           Imad (
                                 ) Mohammad (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Mohamed, Muhammad, Mohammed) Deeb (
                                 ) Khamis (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Imad Mohammad Dib Khamees)

                              Date of birth: 1 August 1961;
                              Place of birth: near Damascus

                              Prime Minister and former Minister of Electricity. As Government Minister, shares responsibility for the regime's violent repression against the civilian population.

                              23.3.2012

                              114.

                           Emad (
                                 ) Abdul-Ghani (
                                 ) Sabouni (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Imad Abdul Ghani Al Sabuni)

                              Born: 1964;
                              Place of birth: Damascus

                              Former Minister of Telecommunications and Technology, in office until at least April 2014. As former Government Minister, shares responsibility for the regime's violent repression against the civilian population. Appointed in July 2016 as the Head of Planning and International Cooperation Agency (Government agency).

                              27.2.2012

                              116.

                           Tayseer (
                                 ) Qala (
                                 ) Awwad (
                                 )

                              Born: 1943;
                              Place of birth: Damascus

                              Former Minister of Justice. Associated with the Syrian regime and its violent repression against the civilian population. Former Head of Military Court. Member of the High Judicial Council.

                              23.9.2011

                              132.

                           Brigadier General Abdul- Salam (
                                 ) Fajr (
                                 ) Mahmoud (
                                 )

                              Head of the Bab Tuma (Damascus) Branch of the air force's intelligence service. Responsible for the torture of opponents in custody.

                              24.7.2012

                              147.

                           General Amer al-Achi (a.k.a. Amer Ibrahim al-Achi; a.k.a. Amis al Ashi; a.k.a. Ammar Aachi; a.k.a. Amer Ashi) (
                                 )

                              Head of the intelligence branch of the air force intelligence agency (2012-2016). Through his role in the air force intelligence agency, Amer al-Achi is implicated in the repression of the Syrian opposition.

                              24.7.2012

                              153.

                           Waleed (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Walid) Al Mo'allem (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Al Moallem, Muallem (
                                 ))

                              Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. As Government Minister shares responsibility for the regime's violent repression against the civilian population.

                              16.10.2012

                              157.

                           Eng. Bassam (
                                 ) Hanna (
                                 )

                              Date of birth: 1954;
                              Place of birth: Aleppo (Syria)

                              Former Minister of Water Resources in power after May 2011. As a former Government Minister, shares responsibility for the regime's violent repression against the civilian population.

                              16.10.2012

                              160.

                           Dr. Hazwan (
                                 ) Al Wez (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Al Wazz)

                              Minister of Education. As Government Minister shares responsibility for the regime's violent repression against the civilian population.

                              16.10.2012

                              169.

                           Dr. Adnan (
                                 ) Abdo (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Abdou) Al Sikhny (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Al-Sikhni, Al-Sekhny, Al-Sekhni)

                              Date of birth: 1961;
                              Place of birth: Aleppo (Syria)

                              Former Minister of Industry. As a former Government Minister shares responsibility for the regime's violent repression against the civilian population.

                              16.10.2012

                              171.

                           Dr Abdul-Salam (
                                 ) Al Nayef (
                                 )

                              Former Minister of Health in power after May 2011. As a former Government Minister, shares responsibility for the regime's violent repression against the civilian population.

                              16.10.2012

                              175.

                           Najm-eddin (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Nejm-eddin, Nejm-eddeen, Najm-eddeen, Nejm-addin, Nejm-addeen, Najm-addeen, Najm-addin) Khreit (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Khrait)

                              Former State Minister. As a former Government Minister shares responsibility for the regime's violent repression against the civilian population.

                              16.10.2012

                              176.

                           Abdullah (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Abdallah) Khaleel (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Khalil) Hussein (
                                 ) a.k.a. Hussain)

                              Former State Minister in power after May 2011. As a former Government Minister, shares responsibility for the regime's violent repression against the civilian population.

                              16.10.2012

                              189.

                           Dr Malek (
                                 ) Ali (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Malik Ali)

                              Date of birth: 1956;
                              Place of birth: Tartous (Syria)

                              Former Higher Education Minister in power after May 2011. As a former Government Minister, shares responsibility for the regime's violent repression against the civilian population.

                              24.6.2014

                              206.

                           Major General Muhamad (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Mohamed, Muhammad) Mahalla (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Mahla, Mualla, Maalla, Muhalla)

                              Born: 1960;
                              Place of birth: Jableh

                              Member of the Syria Armed Forces of the rank of Major General in post after May 2011. Head of the Syrian Military Intelligence (SMI), Branch 293 (Internal Affairs), since April 2015. Responsible for repression and violence against the civilian population in Damascus/Damascus countryside. Former Deputy Head of Political Security (2012), Officer of the Syrian Republican Guard and Vice-Director of the Political Security Directorate. Head of Military Police, Member of the National Security Bureau.

                              29.5.2015

                              210.

                           Tahir (
                                 ) Hamid (
                                 ) Khalil (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Tahir Hamid Khali; Khalil Tahir Hamid)

                              Position: Major General

                              Holds the ranks of Major General, Head of the Syrian Artillery and Missiles Directorate of the Syrian Armed Forces, in post after May 2011. As a senior ranking officer of the Syrian Artillery and Missile Directorate, he is responsible for the violent repression of the civilian population, including the deployment of missiles and chemical weapons by Brigades under his command in highly populated civilian areas in Ghouta in 2013.

                              28.10.2016

                              251.

                           Mohammad (
                                 ) Ziad (
                                 ) Ghriwati (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Mohammad Ziad Ghraywati)

                              Mohammad Ziad Ghriwati is an engineer at the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre. He is involved in chemical weapons proliferation and delivery. Mohammad Ziad Ghriwati has been involved in the construction of barrel bombs which have been used against the civilian population in Syria.
                              He is associated with the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre, a listed entity.

                              18.7.2017

                              253.

                           Khaled (
                                 ) Sawan (
                                 )

                              Dr Khaled Sawan is an engineer at the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre, which is involved in chemical weapons proliferation and delivery. He has been involved in the construction of barrel bombs which have been used against the civilian population in Syria.
                              He has been associated with the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre, a listed entity.

                              18.7.2017

                              254.

                           Raymond (
                                 ) Rizq (
                                 ) (a.k.a. Raymond Rizk)

                              Raymond Rizq is an engineer at the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre, involved in chemical weapons proliferation and delivery. He has been involved in the construction of barrel bombs which have been used against the civilian population in Syria.
                              He is associated with the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre, a listed entity.

                              18.7.2017

                              261.

                           Maher Sulaiman (a.k.a.
                                 ; Mahir; Suleiman)

                              Place of birth: Lattakia, Syria;
                              Doctor; Director of the Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology;
                              Address: Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology (HIAST), P.O. Box 31983, Damascus

                              Director of the Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology (HIAST), which provides training and support as part of the Syrian chemical weapons proliferation sector. Due to his senior position at the HIAST, which is an affiliate and subsidiary of the Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC), he is associated with the HIAST and SSRC, both of which are designated entities.

                              19.3.2018’

                  II.

                  In Part A (‘Persons’), the following names and corresponding entries are deleted:

                              21.

                              Dawud Rajiha

                              39.

                              Hassan Bin-Ali Al-Turkmani.

                  III.

                  In Part A (‘Persons’), the entry numbers for the persons below are replaced as follows:

                              Name of person

                              Current entry number

                              New entry number

                              Houmam Jaza'iri

                              1

                              264

                              Mohamad Amer Mardini

                              2

                              265

                              Mohamad Ghazi Jalali

                              3

                              266

                              Kamal Cheikha

                              4

                              15

                              Hassan Nouri

                              5

                              17

                              Mohammad Walid Ghazal

                              6

                              74

                              Khalaf Souleymane

                              7

                              118

                              Nizar Wahbeh Yazaji

                              8

                              178

                              Hassan Safiyeh

                              9

                              202

                              Issam Khalil

                              10

                              267

                              Ghassan Ahmed

                              13

                              268

                              Abdelhamid Khamis

                              16

                              269

                  IV.

                  In Part B (‘Entities’), entry No 60 is replaced by the following:

                              Name

                              Identifying information

                              Reasons

                              Date of listing

                              ‘60.

                           Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology (HIAST) (

                                 ) (a.k.a. Institut Supérieur des Sciences Appliquées et de Technologie (ISSAT))

                              P.O. Box 31983, Barzeh

                              Affiliated to and a subsidiary of the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC) which is already designated. It provides training and support to the SSRC and is therefore responsible for the violent repression of the civilian population.

                              23.7.2014’


title: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/775 of 28 May 2018 laying down rules for the application of Article 26(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the provision of food information to consumers, as regards the rules for indicating the country of origin or place of provenance of the primary ingredient of a food (Text with EEA relevance. )

text:
               29.5.2018

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 131/8

         COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2018/775
   of 28 May 2018
   laying down rules for the application of Article 26(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the provision of food information to consumers, as regards the rules for indicating the country of origin or place of provenance of the primary ingredient of a food
   (Text with EEA relevance)
   THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
   Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
   Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (1), and in particular Article 26(8) thereof,
   Whereas:

               (1)

               Article 26 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 establishes general rules and requirements regarding the indication of the country of origin or place of provenance of foods, which apply without prejudice to the specific Union provisions.

               (2)

               Article 26(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 requires the indication of the country of origin or place of provenance where its omission could mislead the consumer as to the true country of origin or place of provenance of the final food in question, in particular if the information accompanying the food or the label as a whole would otherwise imply that the food has a different country of origin or place of provenance. This Article aims at preventing misleading food information which implies a certain origin of a food, when in fact its true origin is different.

               (3)

               Article 26(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 provides that where the country of origin or the place of provenance of a food is given and where it is not the same as that of its primary ingredient, the country of origin or place of provenance of the primary ingredient in question shall also be given or indicated as being different to that of the food. It further states that the application of these requirements shall be subject to the adoption of an implementing act.

               (4)

               Article 26(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 addresses cases where the country of origin or place of provenance is given mandatorily in accordance with Article 26(2)(a) of the Regulation or voluntarily through any indication such as statements, terms, pictorial presentation or symbols.

               (5)

               Voluntary indications such as geographical statements included in, or accompanying the name of the food, may also be part of product designations protected as geographical indications or as trade marks according to specific EU legislations.

               (6)

               Indications of the country of origin or the place of provenance of a food which are part of product designations protected as geographical indications under Regulations of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) No 1151/2012 (2), (EU) No 1308/2013 (3), (EC) No 110/2008 (4) or (EU) No 251/2014 (5), or protected pursuant to international agreements fall within the scope of Article 26(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. In view of the fact that for these product designations an intrinsic link between product characteristics and geographical origin exists, that they are regulated by specific rules, including rules on labelling, and taking into consideration the specific character of these names as intellectual property rights, it is necessary to further examine how the origin of the primary ingredient provided by Article 26(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 should be indicated for said names.

               (7)

               Indications of the country of origin or the place of provenance of a food which are part of registered trade marks fall within the scope of Article 26(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. Trade marks may consist of any signs, in particular words, including personal names, designs, letters, numerals, colours, the shape of goods or of the packaging of goods, or sounds, provided that such signs give to the goods or services of one undertaking a distinctive character. The purpose of trade marks is to allow the consumer to identify a particular commercial source or trade origin in connection with specific good and/or services. Taking into consideration the specific character and objective of trade marks, it is appropriate to further examine how the origin of the primary ingredient provided by Article 26(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 should be indicated when required for trade marks.

               (8)

               Customary and generic names including geographic terms that literally indicate origin, but whose common understanding is not an indication of origin or place of provenance of the food, should not be covered by this Regulation.

               (9)

               For the purpose of this Regulation, identification marks accompanying the food in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (6) laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin should not be considered as an indication of the country of origin or the place of provenance.

               (10)

               To enable consumers to make better informed choices, it is necessary, by means of this Regulation, to set specific rules which should apply where the country of origin or the place of provenance of the primary ingredient is given. Those rules shall ensure that such information is sufficiently precise and meaningful.

               (11)

               It is therefore appropriate that such indication for the primary ingredient is provided with reference to a geographical area which should be easy to understand for the consumer. The use of invented names for regions or other geographical areas which are not meaningful information or could mislead the consumer as to the real place of provenance of the primary ingredient should be prohibited.

               (12)

               Where a primary ingredient is a food subject to specific Union provisions on the indication of the country of origin or the place of provenance, these provisions could be alternatively used for the purposes of Article 26(3)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011.

               (13)

               Where food business operators opt to only indicate the country of origin or place of provenance of the primary ingredient as being different to that of the food, for example because of multiple or variable supply sources and particular production processes, it is appropriate to provide a framework which takes into account the various circumstances of food processing. The relevant indication should ensure comprehensible information to the consumer.

               (14)

               Information provided with respect to primary ingredient in accordance with this Regulation should complement the information given to the consumers on the country of origin or place of provenance of the food, and should be easily visible and clearly legible and where appropriate indelible.

               (15)

               An appropriate transitional period should be established for the application of this Regulation, in accordance with Article 47 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, which requires that any new food information measures should apply as from 1 April in any calendar year.

               (16)

               The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

         HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
   Article 1
   Scope
   1.   This Regulation lays down the modalities for the application of Article 26(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 where the country of origin or place of provenance of a food is given by any means such as statements, pictorial presentation, symbols or terms, referring to places or geographical areas, except for geographic terms included in customary and generic names where those terms literally indicate origin but whose common understanding is not an indication of country of origin or place of provenance.
   2.   This Regulation shall not apply to geographical indications protected under Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 or Regulation (EU) No 251/2014 or protected pursuant to international agreements, nor registered trade marks where the latter constitute an origin indication, pending the adoption of specific rules concerning the application of Article 26(3) to such indications.
   Article 2
   Indication of the country of origin or place of provenance of the primary ingredient
   The country of origin or the place of provenance of a primary ingredient which is not the same as the given country of origin or the given place of provenance of the food shall be given:

               (a)

               with reference to one of the following geographical areas:

                           (i)

                           ‘EU’, ‘non-EU’ or ‘EU and non-EU’; or

                           (ii)

                           Region, or any other geographical area either within several Member States or within third countries, if defined as such under public international law or well understood by normally informed average consumers; or

                           (iii)

                           FAO Fishing area, or sea or freshwater body if defined as such under international law or well understood by normally informed average consumers; or

                           (iv)

                           Member State(s) or third country(ies); or

                           (v)

                           Region, or any other geographical area within a Member State or within a third country, which is well understood by normally informed average consumers; or

                           (vi)

                           The country of origin or place of provenance in accordance with specific Union provisions applicable for the primary ingredient(s) as such;

               (b)

               or by means of a statement as follows:
               ‘(name of the primary ingredient) do/does not originate from (the country of origin or the place of provenance of the food)’ or any similar wording likely to have the same meaning for the consumer.

         Article 3
   Presentation of the information
   1.   Information provided pursuant to Article 2 shall be provided in a font size which is not smaller than the minimum font size as required in accordance with Article 13(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011.
   2.   Without prejudice to paragraph 1, where the country of origin or place of provenance of a food is given with words, the information provided pursuant to Article 2 shall appear in the same field of vision as the indication of the country of origin or place of provenance of the food and by using a font size which has an x-height of at least 75 % of the x-height of the indication of the country of origin or place of provenance of the food.
   3.   Without prejudice to paragraph 1, where the country of origin or place of provenance of a food is given by means of non-scriptural form, the information provided pursuant to Article 2 shall appear in the same field of vision as the indication of the country of origin or place of provenance of the food.
   Article 4
   Entry into force, date of application and transitional measures
   This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
   It shall apply from 1 April 2020.
   Foods placed on the market or labelled prior to the date of application of this Regulation may be marketed until the stocks are exhausted.

      This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
      Done at Brussels, 28 May 2018.

            For the Commission

            The President

         Jean-Claude JUNCKER

      (1)  Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers amending Regulations (EC) No 1924/2006 and (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Commission Directive 87/250/EEC, Council Directive 90/496/EEC, Commission Directive 1999/10/EC, Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Directives 2002/67/EC and 2008/5/EC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 608/2004 (OJ L 304, 22.11.2011, p. 18).

      (2)  Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs (OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1).

      (3)  Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671).

      (4)  Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 (OJ L 39, 13.2.2008, p. 16).

      (5)  Regulation (EU) No 251/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of aromatised wine products and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1601/91 (OJ L 84, 20.3.2014, p. 14).

      (6)  Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for foods of animal origin (OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 55).