Consideration of amendments to food labelling report in ENVI committee

Brussels, 16 February 2009

Procedure: Co-decision Documents: Meeting documents/ Oeil

Timetable:

16th March Further debate

31th March Vote

May 4th Plenary

The Committee held a long but far from satisfactory discussion on the issue with procedural problems at the fore.

Sommer (D-EPP) complained that she, like others, had only just received the translated version of all the amendments and had not had time to examine them all. There were translation errors, problems with numbering and she was beginning to wonder whether they would have time to deal with this properly. She agreed with Roth Behrendt (D-PES) who said the Political groups and national delegations had still not had the chance to discuss this and she still felt unsure as to where the Groups stood at the start of the debate and at the end. Even though an additional discussion was added on 16 March, she wondered if this would leave time to find compromise before the vote on March 31.

Turning to the substance Sommer said this could only be a basic regulation with fundamental rules - they did not have the scientific knowledge to go into too many details

Corbey (NL-PES shadow) also admitted to not having read all the amendments but was hopeful that they could find compromises on a number of points possible compromise likely on alcohol avoid overloading the system for SMEs MS should be allowed to go further with national provisions against 3mm

Maaten (NL-ALDE shadow) yes more information for consumer but don't overload them - "don't make the best the enemy of the good" size of letters need to be legible - symbols easier than lots of writing in several languages SMEs - could exempt for firms less than 10 people

Buitenweg (NL-V shadow) alcohol should be included - "why include Coke but not beer"? don't mislead the consumer - if it says it contains strawberry, it should be a strawberry and not artificial flavour Liotard (NL-GUE shadow) could accept 3mm

Willmott (GB-PES) alcohol important in terms of calories and energy content should be indicated exempt SMEs under 10 people

Klass (D-EPP) · more needed on allergens · legibility not just about size of print · keep alcohol out - we have just voted on spirits and COM on wine

Roth Behrendt (D-PES) our Groups and national delegations need time to discuss this and not sure if there will be enough time between 16 and 31 March - this is very sensitive. look at what 3mm looks like - too big - and exemption for surface area not serious. must be consistent on SMEs - 10 is the size of a family bakery

Csibi (RO-ALDE) keep alcohol out -it already has a lot of legislation

Czech Presidency 6 working groups planned - 2 have already met on general labelling and nutritional labelling - so still at initial stages and analysing all the texts hope by June to have a text for the Swedish Presidency to take on

Sommer yes consumers need to be able to decide but this also for producers and retailers and need to simplify for them and give legal certainty Groups and national delegations do need to discuss before we start taking decisions - do we have time? Will meet the shadows this week to see how we proceed.