European Union - Food labelling: Environment Committee sets out clearer rules
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/es/pressroom/content/20110418IPR18101/html/Food-labelling-Environment-Committee-sets-out-clearer-rules
20-Apr-2011 (15 years 1 months 19 days ago)Food labels should include mandatory nutritional information, inter alia on artificial trans fats and the country of provenance, said Environment Committee MEPs on Tuesday.
The origin of certain foods, such as beef, honey, olive oil and fresh fruit and vegetables, must already be stated on the label. At Parliament's request, the Council of Ministers agreed to extend this to swine, sheep, goat and poultry meat. However, MEPs now wish to go further, by indicating the "place or country of provenance " for all meat and poultry, milk and dairy products and other single-ingredient products.. They also voted for a requirement to state the country of provenance for meat, poultry and fish when used as an ingredient in processed food.
Meat labels should indicate where the animal was born, reared and slaughtered, say MEPs. In addition, meat from slaughter without stunning (in accordance with certain religious traditions), should be labelled as such and meat consisting of combined meat parts must be labelled "formed meat".
The committee approved its proposals with 57 votes in favour, 4 against and 1 abstention, giving rapporteur Renate Sommer (EPP, DE) a strong mandate to enter into negotiations with to achieve a second-reading agreement with Council ahead of Parliament's plenary vote in July.
The origin of certain foods, such as beef, honey, olive oil and fresh fruit and vegetables, must already be stated on the label. At Parliament's request, the Council of Ministers agreed to extend this to swine, sheep, goat and poultry meat. However, MEPs now wish to go further, by indicating the "place or country of provenance " for all meat and poultry, milk and dairy products and other single-ingredient products.. They also voted for a requirement to state the country of provenance for meat, poultry and fish when used as an ingredient in processed food.
Meat labels should indicate where the animal was born, reared and slaughtered, say MEPs. In addition, meat from slaughter without stunning (in accordance with certain religious traditions), should be labelled as such and meat consisting of combined meat parts must be labelled "formed meat".
The committee approved its proposals with 57 votes in favour, 4 against and 1 abstention, giving rapporteur Renate Sommer (EPP, DE) a strong mandate to enter into negotiations with to achieve a second-reading agreement with Council ahead of Parliament's plenary vote in July.