Brussels, 07/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - While waiting for a first reading from the Parliament, the Council produced, on Thursday 7 June, a “general approach” on the EU's draft regulation on foodstuffs considered essential for certain vulnerable people, such as babies and young children. This future legislation aims to clarify the appropriate legal framework for these particular foodstuffs by preventing specific legislation which is applicable to them, or legislation pertaining to ordinary foodstuffs, doubling up the work. The general approach, which has the value of agreement in principle of the Council, was adopted without debate (on the sidelines of the Transport Council). It focuses on: - infant and follow-up formulas; - grain-based formulas and baby food for infants and young children; - food for special medical needs; - and total daily ration substitutes for controlling weight.
The general approach stipulates that the Commission will be responsible for adopting delegated acts in order to set specific requirements on the composition and information applicable to these four categories of foodstuffs.
Although milk drinks and similar commercialised products known as “growing-up milk” are excluded from the scope of the future regulation, the Commission will be asked to say whether specific rules for these products are required, following consultation with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Depending on the recommendation provided by EFSA, the Commission would be expected to decide whether special provisions for foodstuffs for sportsmen and women are required.
“Gluten-free” and “very low gluten content” labels are expected to be covered by EU Regulation 1169/2011 on consumer information on foodstuffs, given that they are not supposed to provide guarantees on the general composition of the product.
The draft regulation on which the Parliament is being asked to give it opinion at first reading, aims to replace (when it is adopted) Directive 2009/39/EC on foodstuffs intended for a particular diet. (AN/transl.fl)