Foodlaw-Reading
Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
|
|
Council Paper (10846/20), 17 September 2020
 |
Council Paper 10846/20: Front of Pack Nutrition Labeling ‒ Information from the Italian and the Czech delegations, on behalf of the Cyprus, Czech, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian and Romanian delegations. The paper is available from the Council website (click on mage). |
This paper was published on the 17 September 2020 for discussion at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council Meeting on 21 September 2020. The minutes of the meeting record that "The Czech Republic and Italy presented a set of desired principles related to the front-of-pack nutritional labelling." The following is the introduction to the 'Non Paper":
1. Italy and the Czech Republic on behalf of Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Latvia and Romania would like to request the addition of an AOB point to the agenda of the Agrifish Council, aimed at presenting a Non Paper on front of pack nutrition labelingand open to further participation.
2. Food labeling plays an important role in the Commission’s Communication “A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system” (COM(2020)381 final) of May2020. The Strategy also announces the Commission intention to propose a harmonized mandatory front-of-pack labeling, with the aim to empower consumers to make informed, healthy and sustainable food choices. Such proposal is expected by the end of 2022.
3. The German Presidency is actively promoting the exchange of views on this subject with various initiatives, among which the Conference of Food Directors in October and the Council Conclusions in December 2020, intended to identify the key aspects of a possible EU harmonized FOPNL scheme.
4. We perceive the future solution of the issue of front of pack nutrition labelling and the development of the EU harmonized FOPNL scheme as very important both for producers and especially for consumers.
5. Against this background, with a view to provide a constructive input, the above mentioned like-minded group of Member States has agreed on a set of basic principles and desirable characteristics that should guide the development of the EU harmonized FOPNL scheme, which are enshrined in the said non-paper, which is open to subscription by other MS.
6. Italy and the Czech Republic on behalf of Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Latvia and Romania wish that the Presidency may positively consider this contribution in the framework of the forthcoming Council Conclusions.
