The European Commission’s draft regulation is too bureaucratic and, therefore, not the most effective way to reduce the risk to consumers of exposure to acrylamide, an acknowledged carcinogenic chemical contaminant found in some foodstuffs, the European Parliament’s environment committee argued on Thursday 28 September, vetoing the text.
Acrylamide is to be found in many foodstuffs cooked at high temperatures, such as chips, crisps, cereal-based products, coffee and coffee substitutes.
The proposal of objection drafted by Elisabeth Köstinger (EPP, Austria) was passed by 44 votes to 10, with 7 abstentions.
To support their veto, the MEPs said that, in their opinion, the text does not observe the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. They argue that the determination of thresholds for acrylamide in foodstuffs is not the most effective measure to guarantee consumer protection but will lead to excessive bureaucracy, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) such as small restaurants, bakeries and local retailers, for example.
They feel that the most appropriate measure would be an information and awareness-raising campaign, directed at both companies and consumers, on the presence of acrylamide in some foodstuffs.
The MEPs, therefore, call on the Commission to withdraw its proposal and to present a new one by July 2018 that grants an exemption to SMEs. Parliament’s objection, however, is not legally binding.
The draft regulation that was approved by member state experts in July requires the agri-food industry to reduce the presence of acrylamide through mitigation measures with verification by means of sampling and analysis. It also establishes reference levels, in a sense, performance indicators, to be used to check the effectiveness of the mitigation measures. The text states that the establishment of limit values required by Regulation 315/93 on contaminants in foodstuffs should be envisaged after the Commission regulation comes into effect. Regulation 315/93 seeks to protect public health by prohibiting the marketing of foodstuffs containing unacceptably high quantities of residual substances, called “contaminants” (see EUROPE 11834). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)