Nutrition labels give Brussels an awkward case of indigestion

Article discusses European Commission proposals to create a new Europe-wide system of nutrition labels for food. A proposal to reshape the system for the first time in more than a decade faced a key vote in the European Parliament on 16 March 2010.

The Parliament's Environment Committee sided with industry, rejecting an amendment to include traffic lights in a broader proposal on food labels that is to be voted on by the full chamber in June.

ESO: Background information: Commission proposal to overhaul EU food labelling rules http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-proposal-to-overhaul-eu-food-labelling-rules/

European Commission: DG Health and Consumer Protection: Food and feed safety: Labelling and nutrition: Provision of Food Information to Consumers - Proposed Legislation http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/labellingnutrition/foodlabelling/proposed_legislation_en.htm

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Food information to consumers http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?id=559285

European Parliament: Press Release, 16.3.10: Clearer and more informative food labelling rules http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/067-70614-074-03-12-911-20100315IPR70613-15-03-2010-2010-false/default_en.htm

EurActiv, 17.3.10: EU lawmakers reject colour-coded system for food labels http://www.euractiv.com/health/eu-lawmakers-reject-colour-coded-news-351204

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