Public Affairs

According to the Regulation on the Provision of Food Information to Consumers an indication of the country of origin is currently only mandatory with regards to specific meat products respectively when the failure to indicate might mislead the consumer as to the true country of origin or place of provenance of the food. The Food Chain Evaluation Consortium (FCEC), led by Agra CEAS Consulting, has been mandated by the DG Health and Consumers of the European Commission (DG SANCO) to carry out a study on the application of rules on the mandatory indication of country of origin or place of provenance of unprocessed foods, single ingredient products, and ingredients that represent more than 50% of a food. The study should be finalized in August 2014. In December 2013 the European Commission released a report on the arguments for and against a mandatory indication of the Country of Origin for meat products. The report analyses the feasibility and consequences of mandatory measures as well as the impact on the internal and international markets. The European Commission will now consult the European Parliament and the Member States in preparation of its next steps.

Position of CEBP

The CEBP campaigns for a simple and practical solution. Bureaucracy must be avoided as well as, due to real conditions (e.g. flour as an ingredient, which makes up more than 50%), not realizable information requirements.

According to Annex V Nr. 19 of the regulation, handcrafted food which is directly supplied by a manufacturer of small quantities of products to the final consumer or to local retail establishments is exempted from the mandatory nutrition declaration. It is currently unclear in different member states what this means in detail and how these requirements have to be defined.

Position of CEBP

The exception need to be understood like that: Craft companies are excluded of the mandatory nutrition declaration according to Article 9, paragraph 1, letter l) of the FIR.

We also expect that an interpretation, which companies are meant by these terms is reserved by the particular Member State.

The Health Department of the United Kingdom recently proposed a so called «GDA-Hybrid-Scheme» (also called: UK Traffic Lights System), which recommends a traffic light labelling system for food products concerning the quantity of ingredients such as salt, sugar and fat. This could become a precedent for other EU- member states.

In reaction to that, the Italian government presented a discussion paper at the last Competitiveness Council on 20 and 21 February 2014. The Italian delegation, supported by several delegations, drew the attention of the Council to a “traffic light” system for food labelling developed by the United Kingdom which aims at classifying foods on the basis of a color code, based on the content of the product, and the effects of that system on the free circulation of goods in the internal market as well as the correct information for consumers.

The European Commission promised to check on the compatibility of the British system with the principles of the internal market as well as with the provisions of the Food Information regulation.

Position of CEBP

The CEBP clearly and vehemently militate against the UK- Traffic Light System. From a legal perspective, we see that marking as a striking violation against the EU’s plan, to unify the food labeling law in Europe. Products marked with «red», are discriminated in a not comprehensible manner. Ultimately, the consumer is not informed with this kind of labeling, however is led in unscientific manner astray.

Each food is inherently a combination of «red, yellow and green». Therefore the proposed system cannot reflect the real value of a food – seems absolutely arbitrary and thus is giving false signals.

On 21 November 2013 the Commission presented a draft reform of the information and promotion policy for European agricultural and food products. The aim is to develop and open up new markets for European agricultural products on the Internal Market and in the Third Countries, and to increase consumer awareness of their quality. The campaigns can run inside the EU, or beyond its borders with the objective of opening up new markets for EU farmers. Promotional activities can include advertising campaigns in the press, on television, on radio or on the Internet, point-of-sale promotions, public relations campaigns, participation in exhibitions and fairs, and a range of other activities.

EU financing can cover half of the cost of a campaign. The professional organisation behind the campaign must contribute at least 20 percent of the cost. National authorities can provide the remainder of the funding.

The European Commission proposed to include agricultural products and foodstuffs in the scope of the new regulation. Bread, pastry, cakes, confectionery, biscuits and other baker’s wares could now be promoted with the aid of the EU.

Position of CEBP

Basically, we recommend the promotion policy of the European Union and consider the regular reorganization, of the underlying regulations, to be appropriate. We are much appreciated, that according to this current draft, bread and baked goods are listed in the proposed regulation for food, which may be subject of promotion measures.

The topic salt and the creation of so-called nutrient profiles are discussed at national, European and international level for some time. For a long time politicians require, to reduce the salt content in certain foods – this should also include bread – with reference to a supposed causal link with high blood pressure and thus the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

In current discussions about revisiting the proposals for the introduction of nutrient profiles, obviously even at European level raise concerns over the corresponding plans of DG SANCO, since it has been recognized that on the one hand the underlying scientific findings (concerning the relationship between salt intake and the mentioned diseases) are not clearly and on the other hand the quality and nutritional balance is not determined by a single food, however by the diet as a whole.

Position of CEBP

Vehemently the CEBP campaigns always, against the planned nutrient profiles according to Regulation No 1924/2006 and thus a reformulation of traditional recipes, due to supposedly health policy considerations. Any political interference in the composition of food and thus in existing recipes are rejected. In particular, it applies when a causal relationship is not objectively justifiable and a political activism results only in discrimination of food and paternalism of consumers.