MEPs Reject Traffic Light System in Favor of Uniform Labeling Laws

Members of European Parliament (MEPs) have apparently voted in favor of draft legislation that would require listing energy, fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt content on the front of food packages. Doing so, they rejected a traffic light system that sought to further emphasize the levels of salt, sugar and fat in processed foods, and opposed parallel schemes run by national regulators.

According to a June 14-17, 2010, plenary session report, MEPs approved mandatory front-of-pack (FOP) nutritional information accompanied by guideline daily amounts “expressed with per 100g or per 100ml values.” They also supported (i) stating the amount of protein, fiber and trans fats “elsewhere on the packaging”; (ii) extending country-of-origin labeling regulations to all meat, poultry, dairy, and other single-ingredient products; (iii) labeling meat slaughtered without stunning; (iv) specifying country of origin for “meat, poultry and fish when used as an ingredient in processed food”; and (v) retaining the “’nutrient profiles’ from existing EU nutrition and health claims legislation.” Non-prepackaged foods, handcrafted food products made by “microenterprises,” and alcoholic beverages would remain exempt from nutritional labeling requirements.

“Once the legislation is adopted, food businesses will have three years to adapt to the rules. Smaller operators, with fewer than 100 employees and an annual turnover under €5 million, would have five years to comply,” concludes the plenary session report, which anticipates that the draft will return to Parliament for a second reading after renegotiation with the European Council. See The Independent, June 15, 2010.