THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT WANTS A COMMON LABELING SYSTEM FOR FOOD AND DRINKS.

The European Parliament has just ruled on the Consumer Information Regulation that has kept the European industry in suspense for months due to the repercussions it will have on the labeling of food products..

Since in 2006 the new Regulation on nutritional claims will be approved, Few texts had given so many headaches to industrial lobbies. The opinion adopted by the European Parliament toughens the labeling requirements initially provided for by the European Commission, despite protests by the industry, who will have to assume new costs in the future.

Both the new legislative text, which consolidates and modifies all community regulations on labeling, as the text on nutritional claims, the purpose is to offer transparent information to the consumer..

Many believe, However, that the added effort in terms of labeling will not be of much use since the main purchase stimulus continues to be the price of food, especially in times of crisis. Others, more gullible, They think that the European consumer appreciates and appreciates the additional information that is offered with the aim of improving their ability to choose..

During the debate in Parliament, The different positions have collided head-on and the final result has not satisfied anyone one hundred percent..

The new regulations will require labeling the nutritional content of the products on the front of the packaging., i.e., the fats, saturated fatty acids, sugars and salt, list to which Parliament has also added proteins, carbohydrates, fiber and transnatural and artificial fats. The front part of the packaging must also include the indication of the energy value. (in kilocalories) of the product.

The Plenary rejected, However, an amendment presented by several political groups that called for the use of colors as “traffic light” (Red, amber and green) to indicate the high content level, medium or low salt, sugar and fat, idea that was also categorically rejected by the European industry due to the negative image that the consumer could perceive of many products in circulation.

Original Commission proposal postpones nutritional labeling for wine by five years, beer and spirits, with the argument that these sectors are subject to specific legislation regarding labeling. The European Parliament has spoken, on the other hand, in favor of extending this extension to all drinks containing alcohol, waiting for the Community Executive to present a report within five years on the possibility of extending nutritional labeling to these products.

The so-called beverages have also received particular attention in this debate. “alcopops”, composed of soft drinks and alcohol. According to the European Parliament, these drinks, mainly aimed at young people, should be subject to stricter labeling rules to clearly distinguish them from non-alcoholic soft drinks.

The indication of nutritional properties has been one of the main centers of interest in the discussions, together with the indication of the origin of the food, issue that the European Parliament has put on the table, adding greater discomfort among manufacturers. Today, indication of origin is mandatory for some products, like beef, fruits and vegetables, honey and olive oil.

It is also mandatory in all cases in which the omission of the country of origin or place of provenance could mislead the consumer.. Parliament has proposed extending origin labeling to meat, poultry products and other single-ingredient perishable products, as well as fish and meat when used as ingredients in processed products.

This measure has been very poorly received by food manufacturers., whose opinion contrasts with that of European farmers, rather in favor of indicating the origin to give greater visibility to productions originating in the European Union. Impossible to please everyone.