Brussels 19 February 2008
Euro Coop Statement:
Commission proposed set of rules on food labelling : Euro Coop welcomes a balanced proposal.
Euro Coop welcomes the adoption by the Commission of a proposal which clarifies, modernises and strengthens rules on providing food information to consumers.
" Nutrition information becomes mandatory
According to Euro Coop, making nutrition information mandatory on food product labels is a clear signal that the EU is determined to deliver key information to consumers and help them improve their diets.
" Information to be displayed on front-of-pack
Euro Coop supports the requirement for the nutritional content of a food product to be presented on the front of its package. Placing the information on the front will ensure that consumers can't miss it when shopping.
" Legibility rules
Consumer cooperatives view legibility as a prerequisite to consumer use of nutrition labels and believe that essential information should not be eclipsed by a wealth of marketing information and branding.
Based on their experience, consumer coops however fear that it may not be feasible to prescribe a 3 mm font size for all mandatory elements, in particular on small items. Euro Coop reminds that readability is also about colour, contrast and background.
" Nutrients to be labelled
Regarding the nutrients to be labelled, Euro Coop believes that by focussing on key elements that consumers can relate to, the proposal almost strikes the right balance between oversimplification and information overload. Nevertheless, it is puzzled by the introduction of carbohydrates in the proposal and questions its relevance to consumers. As for other nutrients, consumer coops are committed to voluntarily providing on the back of packs the full complementary information that specific consumer groups might need.
" No mandatory format
Euro Coop agrees with the decision not to back one particular scheme at this stage. Consumers' expectations and awareness in terms of nutrition vary greatly according to national, regional or even local cultures and dietary habits. Euro Coop is therefore supportive of the development of voluntary government schemes or guidelines at national level, as this would allow flexibility for business operators and encourage innovation.
Euro Coop acknowledges the concerns raised about the compatibility with the internal market and would welcome clarification on this point. It believes that the system would have to be developed in such a way that it ultimately creates a level-playing field amongst food operators and, ensures that consumers benefit from convergent and meaningful messages.
EURO COOP is the European Community of Consumer Cooperatives, whose members are the national organisations of consumer cooperatives in 17 European countries. Created in 1957, EURO COOP today represents over 3,200 local and regional cooperatives, the members of which amount to more than 22 million consumers across Europe.
For further information, please contact:
Laura Street, Food Policy Officer, Euro Coop
Tel: +32 (0)2 285 00 74
E-mail: lstreetateurocoop.coop
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