. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/N/EEC/33
29 August 2003
(03-4534)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:   European Commission
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:
European Commission,
EC-TBT Enquiry Point,
Fax:  0032 2 299 80 43,
E-mail:  ec-tbt@cec.eu.int
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  X ], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [ X ], 5.7.1 [    ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Foods and food
supplements
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Proposal for a
Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on nutrition and health claims
made on foods (35 pages;  in English, French and Spanish)
6. Description of content:   This proposal covers nutrition and health claims used in the
labelling, presentation and advertising of foods. Only nutrition and health claims that are in
conformity with the provisions of this Regulation will be allowed on the labelling,
presentation and advertising of foods placed on the market within the Community and
delivered as such to the final consumer.  Health claims will be allowed following an
independent scientific assessment and a Community authorization.
7.Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
The main objectives  of this proposal are the following:
– to achieve a high level of consumer protection by providing further voluntary
information, beyond the mandatory information foreseen by EU legislation;
– to increase legal security for economic operators;
– to ensure fair competition in the area of foods;
– to promote and protect innovation in the area of foods.G/TBT/N/EEC/33
Page 2
The proposed rules ensure that foods bearing nutrition and health claims are labelled and
advertised in a truthful and meaningful manner.  Consumers will be able to make informed
and meaningful choices. This also contributes to a higher level of protection of human
health. It gives the economic operators legal security and a more predictable environment
8. Relevant documents:   Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the
Council on nutrition and health clai ms made on foods (COM(2003)424 final
English : http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/fl/fl07_en.pdf
French : http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/fl/fl07_fr.pdf
Spanish : http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/fl/fl07_es.pdf
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: }31 December 2004
10. Final date for comments:   30 November 2003
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telephone and fax
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:
European Commission,
EC-TBT Enquiry Point,
Fax:  0032 2 299 80 43,E-mail:  ec-tbt@cec.eu.int