Brussels, 01/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - Protecting the health of vulnerable consumers is an absolute imperative for the European Parliament environment and health committee, which is chaired by Matthias Groote (S&D, Germany). It came as no surprise, therefore, that, on Wednesday 29 February in the second reading vote on the Ries report, it backed stricter and clearer rules on the labelling and contents of baby milks and for products for people with special medical needs. These rules should also cover gluten intolerance and some low-calorie diets, MEPs say. The Ries report is on a proposal which aims to update, rationalise and clarify EU rules on the labelling and contents of dietetic products. Rapporteur Frédérique Ries (ALDE, Belgium) immediately welcomed the outcome of the vote (62 votes in favour with no abstentions: “I particularly welcome the specific provisions for people affected by celiac disease, since intolerance to gluten can be lethal”, she said.
In the view of the MEPs, the labelling, presentation and advertising of these foods must be “accurate, clear and easy to understand for consumers”, must not be misleading and should not make medical claims.
In future, the MEPs want the labelling of all milk formulae for babies up to 12 months (including “follow-on” formulae) not to include pictures of babies or images that “idealise the use” of the products. The committee says the Commission should review the currently complex legal situation on milks aimed at children between 12-36 months (so-called “growing-up milks”) and propose new rules if needed.
Concerned about increasing numbers of food products making slimming claims, the MEPs say that the new rules should cover energy-restricted diets that are designed to replace a person's daily food intake or strict diets for obese people. These include “low calorie diets” (800-1200 calories per day) and “very low calorie diets” (400-800 calories). Statements on diet foods aimed at the general population should be regulated by the 2006 health claims regulation (1924/2006).
The committee recommended that special gluten labelling rules should be included in this legislation. Food products intended for people with gluten intolerance should contain less than 100 mg gluten per kg to be labelled as having “very low gluten content” and less than 20 mg of gluten per kg to be “gluten free”. MEPs say the Commission should prepare a study with a view to addressing the lack of specific rules for lactose intolerance.
The committee says that food business operators should still be able to pass on important information and advice for use to health professionals. It is for authorities to ensure there is post-market monitoring to make sure the rules are respected. (AN/transl.rt)