Brussels, 21/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - The draft regulation seeking to introduce clearer, more legible and more informative food labelling in the EU to allow consumers to make balanced and informed choices in the food they eat has completed its first reading. On Monday 21 February, the Council of the EU formally adopted its joint position on this text which will make nutrition declarations binding (see EUROPE 10272). The Council says that the energy value and the quantities of certain nutrients, such as fats, saturated fatty acids, carbohydrates, protein, sugar and salt, must feature on the packing and the print must be of at least a set minimum size. Some alcoholic drinks will be exempt from this binding nutrition declaration, but the situation will be reviewed five years after the regulation comes into force. The text will also require the country of origin for pork, lamb and poultry to be indicated.
The new regulation on consumer information on foodstuffs now goes back to the European Parliament for its second reading. (A.N./transl.rt)