Response to interpellation 2025/26:50 on culturally marked food
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerned the introduction of a national labeling for culturally and historically valuable Swedish food products to promote the tourism industry and rural development. SD argues that it is high time to develop national regulations for such labels similar to Norway, as private labels lack legal protection and reliability 1. SD emphasizes that Swedish food traditions are at risk of disappearing and that labels can contribute to regional growth 2. KD argues that Sweden is already part of the EU's system for protected designations and that the industry itself should regulate labels 3. KD emphasizes caution against more regulations and has no ambition to introduce additional cultural labeling 4 5.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)
Mr. Speaker! Runar Filper has asked me if I intend to act to promote the tourism industry and rural development through a regulation on culturally labeled food.
Runar Filper highlights Norway as a good example with the different markings regarding high-quality, locally produced and organic food items that exist there.
Both origin and quality are important added values of food and drink that the government highlights in Food Strategy 2.0. Origin markings are in themselves a form of quality stamp. One of the initiatives in the strategy is to promote the development towards more Swedish products that are marked according to the EU's quality system for protected geographical indications. In order to increase the number of protected products, the government removed the fee that companies had to pay for agency processing of such applications in Sweden.
Protected geographical indications clarify the link between products and their origin. The labeling thereby contributes to promoting the tourism industry and rural development, together with a number of other decided measures in Food Strategy 2.0. The industry has also developed the "Från Sverige" labeling.
The food system is complex and sometimes not sufficiently transparent, especially from the consumers' perspective. One of the food strategy's goals is therefore that consumers should have high confidence in food and be able to make conscious choices. In that regard, different types of labeling can contribute to making food choices easier for consumers. But too many labels and certifications risk, in turn, making the choice more complex and also increasing the companies' perceived regulatory burden.
There are interesting lessons for Sweden in the Norwegian markings as well as in the work of several other countries to highlight local food and drink, among other things through markings. The Government is happy to look towards other countries for inspiration regarding what can be done.
A general caution should, however, prevail in the introduction of own national markings. We do not want to burden the companies with more regulations if it can be avoided.
Runar Filper (SD)
Mr. Speaker! I thank Minister for Rural Affairs Kullgren for the answer.
The Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food established the foundation KSL Matmerk, which was tasked with promoting Norwegian food production. Through special markings, the foundation highlights examples of locally produced and high-quality food products, which strengthens the products' brands.
In addition to an ecological labeling, the foundation uses three other markings with different criteria. The mark Nyt Norge guarantees that the product is manufactured entirely from Norwegian raw materials. The mark Spesialitet is used to mark a local specialty that gives the consumer a genuine food experience. Furthermore, there is the mark Beskyttede Betegnelser, which gives a product official status as unique, culturally and historically significant, and trademark-protected. This marking can be based on three different qualities: origin, connection to a geographical location, or traditional and unique character. The marking is regulated nationally.
Private companies do indeed label food of Swedish origin, but no labeling for culturally and historically valuable and unique products exists here in Sweden, whether among private actors or others. Furthermore, any privately organized labeling of culturally valuable food would lack legal protection and reliability, as the primary motive of private actors is usually profit interest.
Against this background, we believe that it is high time to, similar to Norway, develop national regulations for the labeling of Swedish food products of cultural-historical value. We believe that it would have positive effects on the tourism industry and rural development.
Since 1992, applications have been able to be made to the EU for protected designation for food and agricultural products. There is a designation of origin, SUB, with twelve Swedish products on the list. The first ones to be included there were Kalixlöjrom and Upplandskubb. A few years later, the other ten were added.
There is also a geographical designation, SGB, which the minister highlighted in his response to my interpellation. That designation has 14 Swedish products, including brown beans from Öland, Skåne spettekaka, Swedish vodka and Värmland skrädmjöl, which I believe pleases both me and the Minister for Rural Affairs.
Common to these designations is that there must be a geographical and historical connection to a defined area. But, as has been said, a Swedish national labeling is lacking that is not dependent on making an application to the EU.
Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)
Mr. Speaker! Both I and Member Filper are from Värmland, and in our county, there is a strong food culture. Not least skrädmjölet, which the member mentioned, which we use to make motti – or nävgröt – preferably with bacon and lingonberries. Even the Värmland Vänerlöjrom is included on the list.
A difference between Sweden and Norway is that we are in the EU and are part of the systems that we have jointly agreed upon. That makes a bit of a difference. When I meet farmers and food-producing companies, it is rarely that they seek more of these types of seals, markings and so on. I think we should be a bit cautious. On the other hand, industries can regulate this themselves.
Regarding local food production, we from the government's and the Sweden Democrats' side have increased and secured support for, for example, Eldrimner, which works with locally produced food that is widely recognized. I believe, therefore, that one should be cautious but gladly encourage local initiatives. Fundamentally, I think this is an industry issue and something that in such cases should come from there, precisely based on the difference compared to Norway that Sweden is in the EU and already has protected designations.
It is, however, important to emphasize that it is very important to safeguard and protect culturally conditioned food, i.e., local food produced in a certain way in a certain region or in a certain place, even in Sweden.
I hope that more will take the chance and try to protect their products. We have, as mentioned, made it easier by removing the cost that was associated with that application.
Runar Filper (SD)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you for the answer, Minister for Rural Affairs!
Food products and foodstuffs have always been produced in the countryside. Swedish agriculture has thereby passed on an important part of our cultural heritage. Swedish food and craft traditions originating from the old farming society risk being forgotten and changed at a rapid pace in today's modern society. Inherited knowledge of everyday and natural tasks such as preserving, making juice, salting, smoking, and drying is on the way to disappearing among new generations.
Blood dishes of various kinds were more common in the past, when one was careful to make use of everything edible on the slaughtered animals. It could be black soup, blood sausage, blood palt, palt bread, and so on. It could involve bread baking and old milk dishes. Taking advantage of everything that was obvious during the time of self-sufficiency is not as obvious today. The goal should be to preserve the heritage that otherwise risks being lost.
I believe it is important with different initiatives. Think of the treasures that exist in the homes in the form of grandmother's, great-grandmother's and mother's old handwritten recipes! Food carries identity, culture and history.
As has been said, there are many protected dishes. Each province has its own regional dishes and carries food traditions with its own history.
Taking this into consideration, there are nevertheless good reasons for Swedish labeling of unique and popularly rooted food and agricultural products. Nevertheless, a national labeling for the protection of cultural-historical food is lacking. This could contribute to capturing further interest in both the dish and the location, promote the tourism industry and rural development, and perhaps even contribute to regional growth throughout the country.
Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)
Mr. Speaker! Both the Swedish Board of Agriculture and the Institute for Language and Folklore have compiled summaries of historically valuable food products, dishes, and cultural expressions. These can be used for information and knowledge deepening. The Institute for Language and Folklore is working on creating a list of living traditions, for example food. It will become a basis for UNESCO's convention on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.
The food strategy also highlights and supports the work carried out by the national resource center for food craftsmanship Eldrimner. By being proud of our own food production and showcasing it to the rest of the world, I believe that both the local economy and the tourism industry will benefit.
I see that the interest in food is increasing both in Sweden and globally. More and more travelers and tourists choose destinations wholly or partially based on their interest in food; the number of so-called foodies is increasing. When we communicate our Swedish added values, it does not only create an interest for tourism, but it also strengthens food exports and contributes to increasing both awareness and willingness to pay among Swedish and foreign consumers. It simply becomes a win-win situation.
Runar Filper (SD)
Mr. Speaker and Minister for Rural Affairs Kullgren! I thank the Minister for Rural Affairs very much for the answer. I am very satisfied with it.
I think I will settle for that since I have been able to say what I wanted to convey. It was also fun to debate with a person from Värmland.
Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)
Mr. Speaker! In connection with food production, we also speak very often about biodiversity and about the need for measures in many different forms to promote it. But the government also wants to see increased diversity within food and drink, a gastronomic diversity in the form of food cultures, traditions, and craftsmanship.
In the food strategy, we highlight, among other things, the potential in strengthening the gastronomic identity at both local and national levels. It is not primarily about just looking back in nostalgia but also about highlighting appreciated added values and the unique, and thereby also creating a basis for development and innovation.
In Sweden, we generally need to become much better at communicating our food's added value. Origin is one of them. This applies in the food export industry just as it does in the tourism industry. But not even on the home market is the knowledge high regarding the differences that exist between the origins and manufacturing methods of different goods. Therefore, all Swedes, Mr. Speaker, should have a copy at home of Sweden's regional meals. In that book, one can follow a food journey through our entire elongated country.
I want to conclude with Runar Filpers' question. As I explained in my opening remarks, there are already many different markings. The Government currently has no ambition to introduce further cultural labeling of food.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.