The European Parliament has reportedly rejected draft rules mandating the labeling of engineered nanomaterials used in food. According to a March 13, 2014, press release, MEPs voted to scrap the proposed measure over concerns that the European Commission’s definition of nanomaterial “would exempt nano-sized food additives already on the market.” In particular, MEPs noted that although the European Union currently defines engineered nanomaterials “as any intentionally produced material whose size is under 100 nanometres,” the commission’s draft rules stipulated that “a nanomaterial should consist of at least 50% of particles having a size between 1-100 nanometres,” an increase over the European Food Safety Authority’s recommended threshold of 10 percent. “The EP has repeatedly called for proper nano-labeling and it is highly surprising that the Commission even tried to weaken what has been decided by both Parliament and the Council,” MEP Carl Schlyter was quoted as saying. “Consumers have the right…
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U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) have written a March 11, 2014, letter to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), urging the agencies to reject the European Union’s (EU’s) request that product names such as feta, parmesan and muenster be reserved as “geographical indicators.” As part of ongoing Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations, the EU has reportedly claimed that common cheese names “can only be appropriately displayed on products made in certain areas of Europe.” To this end, it has apparently used free trade agreements (FTAs) with other countries to restrict U.S. exports “under the guise of protection for its geographical indicators.” But the U.S. dairy industry has vociferously criticized the proposal, noting that names like cheddar and provolone are familiar to consumers and widely accepted on the global market. Signed by more than 50 senators, the letter asks USTR…
The World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe (WHO/EU) reportedly warned attendees of a February 25-26, 2014, health conference held by the European Commission and the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union that “being overweight is so common that it risks becoming a new norm.” According to a February 25, 2014, press release, WHO/ EU reported that 27 percent of 13-year-olds and 33 percent of 11-year-olds are now overweight, while 30 percent of boys and girls ages 15 and older “are not getting enough physical activity” in 23 of the 36 countries profiled by the organization. Although it noted the role of physical inactivity in rising obesity rates, WHO/ EU ultimately urged national governments to consider implementing stricter labeling and food product regulations that would require “the food industry to take responsibility.” “We must not let another generation grow up with obesity as the new norm,” said…
The U.K. Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint alleging that PepsiCo International Ltd. t/a Naked Juice made antioxidant health claims on its website that were unauthorized by the EU Register of Nutrition and Health Claims for Foods (the EU Register). According to ASA, Naked Juice argued that health claim guidance issued by the European Commission failed to establish whether the term “antioxidant” “was a specific health claim or a non-specific, general health claim.” As a result, the company considered that the term was a non-specific, general health claim, “and it was therefore permissible to use it, provided it was accompanied by a specific health claim which was authorized on the EU Register” – in this case, specific claims about the Vitamin C contents of the “Green Machine” and “Mango Machine” smoothies singled out in the complaint. But ASA disagreed with this reasoning, ultimately concluding that both the commission’s…
The European Commission (EC) recently proposed two draft directives that would prohibit the cloning of farm animals in the European Union (EU) as well as the importation of cloned animals. Designed to address animal welfare concerns and provide “legal certainty in this field,” the first directive would temporarily ban cloning techniques and the sale of live animal and embryo clones for commercial purposes, while the second directive would ensure that “food such as meat or milk from animal clones is not placed on the EU market.” At the same time, the Commission has also proposed revising current regulations to centralize the novel food authorization procedure at the EU level “with a view to improving access of new and innovative food to the EU market, while still maintaining a high level of consumer protection.” Under these revised rules, the European Food Safety Authority would perform the risk assessment for the novel…
The European Commission (EC) has published a report titled “Origin labelling for meat used as an ingredient: consumers’ attitude, feasibility of possible scenarios and impacts” that provides an overview of the potential consequences of mandatory origin labeling of meat used as an ingredient in food. Based on an independent study completed in July 2013, the report explores three scenarios: (i) maintaining current voluntary origin labeling; (ii) introducing mandatory labeling for EU/non-EU or EU/specific third country indication; and (iii) introducing mandatory labeling indicating the specific EU member state or the specific third country. Among other things, the findings revealed that (i) overall there is “strong” consumer interest in origin labeling; (ii) a considerable difference exists among European Union (EU) member states on consumer preferences and understanding of origin information as well as on the levels of motivation and reasons for wishing to have such information; and (iii) consumer interest for origin…
The European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee has approved a draft report of legislation that calls for stronger policing of the food industry and tougher penalties for fraud. With an aim to strengthen procedures for detection and prevention of fraudulent practices in the European food chain, the legislation calls for, among other things, (i) a clear, European Union (EU)-wide definition of the term “food fraud”; (ii) enhancements to the Food and Veterinary Office’s role and resources in food-fraud cases; (iii) legal obligations for food business operators to report fraudulent behavior; (iv) a “more policing approach” by enforcement bodies; (v) fines of “at least double the amount of the economic advances sought”; and (vi) the forfeiture of registrations for repeat offenders. The report noted that olive oil, fish, organic foods, milk, and grains are the top five products most at risk of food fraud in the EU. …
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued a statement finding that a published review of observational studies ultimately failed to establish a causal relationship between high intakes of phosphate additives in food and increased cardiovascular risk in the general population. In addition to considering the data on the association between serum phosphate levels and cardiovascular disease, the review in question apparently proposed a mechanism by which the metabolism of inorganic phosphate could contribute to vascular calcification, in the process suggesting that “intake of phosphate as a food additive, especially through consumption of processed and ready-to-eat food, is of particular concern.” Additional details about the review, which was initially published in the January 2012 edition of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, appear in Issue 428 of this Update. After assessing these findings at the request of the European Commission, EFSA concluded that (i) the limitations of the observational studies included in the…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued draft guidance for the food industry “to help growers, manufacturers and food service operators take steps to reduce levels of acrylamide in certain foods.” A chemical formed in some foods during high-temperature cooking, acrylamide has been characterized by the National Toxicology Program as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” Suggesting “a range of possible approaches to acrylamide reduction,” the draft guidance stops short of identifying a specific maximum level or action level for acrylamide, but includes recommendations for potato-based foods, cereal-based foods and other products. To reduce acrylamide formation during the cooking process, the draft guidance addresses what types of raw ingredients to use; how to transport, handle, store, and process ingredients; and how to prepare both fresh and par-cooked ingredients. In particular, FDA recommends, among other things, that the food industry (i) use certain kinds of potatoes and grains,…
Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) recently joined a coalition of nongovernmental organizations in criticizing the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) ahead of the agency’s October 3, 2013, stakeholder meeting on transparency in risk assessment. Led by CEO and backed by groups such as Cancer Prevention and Education Society, Friends of the Earth Europe and GMWatch, the coalition argues in an October 1 open letter that EFSA’s current system for approving food products for market is flawed insofar as the agency’s decision-making process relies on confidential dossiers submitted by industry. In particular, the signatories claim that under international and EU law, EFSA must disclose the contents of these dossiers and should also ensure that the studies used to support its market approvals adhere to the same high standards as those set by peer-reviewed journals. To this end, the coalition recommends that EFSA provide “complete, unrestricted and proactive online publication of applicants’ files,”…
