Activities of Britta REIMERS related to 2008/0028(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Explanations of vote
Amendments (36)
Amendment 85 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) There is public interest amongst the general public in the relationship between diet and health and in the choice of an appropriate diet to suit individual needs. The Commission White Paper on a Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity related health issues noted that nutrition labelling is an important tool toone method of informing consumers about the composition of the foods and of helping them make an informed choice. Education and information campaigns run by Member States are an important mechanism for improving consumer understanding of nutrition information. The EU consumer policy strategy 2007 - 2013 underlined that allowing consumers to make informed choice is essential both to effective competition and consumer welfare. Knowledge of the basic principles of nutrition and appropriate nutrition information on foods would contribute significantly towards enabling the consumer to make such an informed choice. To this end, training programmes should be funded by the Member States which would enable European citizens to acquire knowledge or enhance their knowledge of this subject. This could also be achieved by means of on-line information and education programmes. In this way, consumers would have all the tools they need to make a fully informed choice.
Amendment 88 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Community rules should apply only to undertakings, the concept of which implies a certain continuity of activities and a certain degree of organisation. Operations such as the occasional handlingdelivery of food to third parties, serving and selling of food by private persons at events such, for example ast charities,y events or local community fairs and meetings are not covered by the scope of this regulation. , and the sale of food in the various forms of direct marketing by farmers, are not covered by the scope of this regulation. In order to avoid over- stretching, in particular, small and medium-sized enterprises in the traditional food production sector and the food retail trade, which also include providers of mass catering services, products which are not prepackaged should be excluded from the labelling requirements.
Amendment 89 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Food information law should provide sufficient flexibility to be able to keep up to date with new information requirements from consumers and ensure a balance between the protection of the internal market and the differences in the perception of consumers in the Member Statesthat innovation in the food industry is not blocked. The possibility of voluntary additional information provided by food business operators ensures additional flexibility.
Amendment 90 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) TIn addition to the existing rules designed to combat misleading advertising, the rules on food information should prohibit the use of information that would mislead the consumer or attribute medicinal properties to, particularly regarding the energy content, origin or composition of the foods. To be effective, this prohibition should also apply to the advertising and presentation of foods.
Amendment 91 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to prevent a fragmentation of the rules concerning the responsibility of food business operators with respect to incorrect, misleading or missing food information it is appropriate to clearifyly lay down the responsibilities of food business operators in this area. The rules laid down in Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the placing on the market and use of feed1 should be taken as a guide for this. ____________________ 1 OJ L 229, 1.9.2009, p. 1.
Amendment 92 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22 a (new)
Recital 22 a (new)
(22a) New information and communication technologies can play an important role in conveying additional information to consumers, as they allow information to be exchanged rapidly and at little cost. Where food is sold, sellers could at their discretion make available to consumers the additional food information for example via terminals with barcode readers. Likewise, it is possible to envisage consumers accessing additional information via a webpage on the Internet.
Amendment 94 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) Food labels should be clear and understandable to assist consumers wanting to make better-informedselective food and dietary choices. Studies show that easy legibility is an important element in maximising the possibility that labelled information can influence its audience and that the small print sizeillegible product information is one of the main causes of consumer dissatisfaction with food labels. Consequently, factors such as font, colour and contrast should be considered together.
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
Amendment 99 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) It is also important to provide consumers with information on the other alcoholic beverages. Specific Community rules already exist on the labelling of wine. Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine provides an exhaustive set of technical standards which fully cover all oenological practices, manufacturing methods and means of presentation and labelling of wines, thus ensuring that all stages in the chain are covered and that consumers are protected and properly informed. In particular, this legislation describes in a precise and exhaustive manner the substances likely to be used in the production process, together with the conditions for their use via a positive list of oenological practices and treatments; any practice not included in this list is prohibited. Therefore, it is appropriate to exempt wine at this stage from the obligation to list the ingredients and to provide for a nutrition declaration. As regards beer, liqueur wines, sparkling wines, aromatised wines and similar products obtained from fruits other than grapes, fruit beer and spirits as defined in Article 2(1) of Regulation (EC) No. […] of […] 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89alcoholic mixed beverages1, and in order to ensure a consistent approach and coherence with the conditions established for wine, the same kind of exemptions shallould apply. However, the Commission will produce a report after five years of the entry into force of this Regulation and may propose, if necessary, specific requirements in the context of this Regulation. ____________________ 1 OJ L 39, 13.2.2008, p. 16.
Amendment 101 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) TIrrespective of the existing compulsory sectoral rules on origin labelling, and with a view to guaranteeing greater transparency, it should always be mandatory for the indication of the country of origin or of the place of provenance of a food shouldto be provided whenever its absence is likely to mislead consumers as to the true country of origin or place of provenance of that product. In other cases, the provision of the indication of country of origin or place of provenance is left to the appreciation of food business operators. In all casesAs a matter of principle, the indication of country of origin or place of provenance should be provided in a manner which does not deceive the consumer and on the basis of clearly defined criteria which ensure a level playing field for the industry and improve consumers' understanding of the information related to the country of origin or place of provenance of a food. Such criteria should not apply to indications related to the name or address of the food business operator.
Amendment 107 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 38
Recital 38
(38) Recent developments in the expression of the nutrition declaration, other than per 100g/100ml/portion, by some Member States and organisations in the food sector suggest that consumers like such schemes as they can help them make informed choices quickly. However, there is not scientific evidence across all the Community on how the average consumer understands and uses the alternative expression of the information. Therefore, it is appropriate to allow for different schemes to be developed and to allow research on consumer understanding in different Member States to continue so that, if appropriate, harmonised schemes may be introducedo facilitate comparisons of products in differing package sizes, it is therefore appropriate to retain the mandatory stipulation that the nutrition declaration should refer to 100 g/100 ml amounts and, if appropriate, to allow additional portion-based declarations. If the food is prepacked as an individual portion, a nutrition declaration per portion should, in addition, be compulsory. In order to rule out misleading indications relating to portion size, portion sizes should be standardised throughout the EU by means of a consultation process.
Amendment 122 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
(1) Without prejudice to paragraphs 3 and 4, food business operators, within the businesses under their control, shall ensure compliance withThe person responsible for food information shall ensure the prequirements of food information law which are relevant to their activities and shall verify that such requirements are metsence and substantive accuracy of the particulars given.
Amendment 123 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1a (new)
The person responsible for the food information shall be the food business operator who first places a food on the Community market or, where applicable, the food business operator under whose name or business name the food is marketed.
Amendment 124 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
(3) Food business operators placing on the market for the first time a food intended for supply to the final consumer or mass caterer shall ensure the presence and accuracy of the food information in accordance with the applicable food informTo the extent that their activities affect the food information within the business under their control, food business operators shall ensure that the information provided satisfies the requirements of this Regulation law.
Amendment 125 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 4
Article 8 – paragraph 4
(4) Food business operators responsible for retail or distribution activities which do not affect food information shall act with due care to help ensure, within the limits of their respective activities, the presence ofcompliance with the applicable food information requirements, in particular by notrefraining from supplying foods which they know or presume to be non compliant, on the basis of the information in their possession as professionals, do not comply with those requirements.
Amendment 126 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 6
Article 8 – paragraph 6
Amendment 128 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point h
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point h
h) the name or business name and address of the manufacturer or packager, or of a seller established within the Community or of the packager or the importer;
Amendment 146 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
(1) Without prejudice to specific Community legislation applicable to particular foods as regards to the requirements referred to in Article 9(1)(a) to (k), when appearing on the package or on the label attached thereto, the mandatory particulars listed in Article 9(1) shall be printed on the package or on the label in characters of a font size of at least 3mm and shall be presented in a way so as to ensure a significant contrast between the print and backgrounda clearly legible manner with regard to font, colour and contrast.
Amendment 151 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
In a consultation procedure with representatives of the relevant interest groups, the Commission shall draw up binding rules governing the legibility of food information for consumers. Those measures, designed to amend non- essential elements of this Regulation by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 290 TFEU.
Amendment 159 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 4
Article 14 – paragraph 4
Amendment 164 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 6
Article 14 – paragraph 6
(6) Mandatory food information shall be marked in a conspicuous place in such a way as to be easily visible, clearly legible and, where appropriate, indelible. It shall not in any way be hidden, obscured, detracted from or interrupted by any other written or pictorial matter or, any other intervening material or the food packaging itself, for example an adhesive hinge.
Amendment 171 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2
Article 17 – paragraph 2
(2) In the case of packaging or containers the largest printable surface of which has an area of less than 180 cm2 only the particulars listed in Article 9(1) (a), (c), (e) and (f) and Article 29(1)(a) shall be mandatory on the package or on the label. Provision of further particulars on the package shall be possible on a voluntary basis. The particulars referred to in Article 9(1)(b) shall be provided through other means or shall be available at the request of the consumer.
Amendment 178 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point e
e) wine as defined in Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, bever, and spirits as defined in Article 2(1) of Regulation (EC) No. […] of […] of the European Parliament and of the Council on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89ages containing more than 1.2 % by volume of alcohol. The Commission shall produce a report after [no later than five years ofafter the entry into force of this Regulation] concerning the application of Article 19 ton these products and may accompany this report by specific measures determining the rules for labelling ingredients. Those measures designed to amend non-essential elrequirements of this Regulation, by supplementing it shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutinyprocedure referred to in Article 49(3)290 TFEU;
Amendment 188 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – point b
b) the amounts of fat, saturates, carbohydrates with specific reference to natural sugars and added sugars, and salt.
Amendment 199 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
This paragraph shall not apply to wine as defined in Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, beer, and spirits as defined in Article 2(1) of Regulation (EC) No. […] of […] of the European Parliament and of the Council on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89beverages containing more than 1.2 % by volume of alcohol. The Commission shall produce a report after [no later than five years ofafter the entry into force of this Regulation] concerning the application of this paragraph ton these products and may accompany this report by specific measures determining the rules for a mandatory nutrition declaration for these products. Those measures designed to amend non- essential elrequirements of this Regulation by supplementing it, shall be adopted, in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutinyprocedure referred to in Article 49(3)290 TFEU.
Amendment 212 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraph 2
Article 31 – paragraph 2
(2) The amount of energy and nutrients referred to in paragraph 1 shall be expressed per 100 g or per 100 ml. In addition, the amount of energy and nutrients may be expressed per portion. If the food is prepacked as an individual por, subject to Article 32(2) and (3), per portion. tion, the energy and nutrition values referred to in Paragraph 1 must also be indicated. The information may be provided per portion on condition that the number of portions which the package contains is indicated, the portion size is standardised and it is presented or explained in a manner which is comprehensible to the average consumer. In cooperation with food enterprises and the competent authorities of the Member States, the Commission shall develop guidelines for the indication of standardised portion sizes. Those measures designed to amend non-essential requirements of this Regulation by supplementing it shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 290 TFEU.
Amendment 217 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraph 3
Article 31 – paragraph 3
(3) The mandatory nutrition declaration shall be expressed, as appropriate,Voluntary additional labelling to indicate nutrition values shall be executed in table form, expressing the values as a percentage of the reference intakes set out in Part B of Annex XI in relation to per 100 g or per 100 ml or per portion. When provided, the declaration onand, pursuant to Article 31(2), per portion. When provided, labelling indications concerning vitamins and minerals shall alsot the minimum be expressed as a percentage of the reference intakes set out in point 1 of Part A of Annex XI.
Amendment 220 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32
Article 32
Amendment 227 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 34 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. If the nutrition declaration for foods listed in Annex IV is mandatory because a nutrition or health claim is made, the nutrition declaration shall not be required to appear in the principal field of vision.
Amendment 233 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 35 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Without prejudice to paragraph 1, additional voluntary nutrition information for specific target groups, for example children, shall continue to be permitted provided that these specific reference values are scientifically proven, do not mislead the consumer and are in accordance with the general conditions laid down in this Regulation.
Amendment 237 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 3
Article 35 – paragraph 3
Amendment 243 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 5
Article 35 – paragraph 5
Amendment 246 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 6
Article 35 – paragraph 6
Amendment 251 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 38 – paragraph 2
Article 38 – paragraph 2
Amendment 264 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 50 – paragraph -1 (new)
Article 50 – paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 is deleted.
Amendment 266 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 53 – paragraph 3
Article 53 – paragraph 3
Articles 29 to 34 shall apply from [the first day of the month 3 years after the entry into force] except in the case of foods labelled by food business operators with, on the date of entry into force, less than 150 employees and whose annual turnover and/or annual balance sheet total does not exceed EUR 2 million where they shall apply from [the first day of the month 5 years after the entry into force]. Food placed on the market prior to the entry into force of this Regulation may continue to be sold until stocks are exhausted. Prior to the entry into force of this Regulation the Commission shall, after consulting stakeholders, lay down a precise expiry date for the transitional period that is practicable from both the economic and the technical standpoint.