9. 5. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 124/23 
Reasons: 
Directive 79/112/EEC must apply in principle to spirits too. A list of ingredients as proposed in 
Article 10 (2) is not needed, as many consumer studies prove. This would cause considerable expense, 
and there is a danger that trade secrets would be disclosed and that firms would not be able to substitute 
equivalent ingredients once these were included on the label. 
Voting: 
For: 7. Against: 55. Abstentions: 15. 
B. Amendments or changes made to the text during discussions 
— The following paragraph was deleted from the Section opinion as a result of an amendment approved 
during the debate 
Point 5.2.: 
'The Section advises following the national legislation of the primary producing country and making 
the addition of vinic ethyl alcohol obligatory in the production of aromatized wines; this would both 
accord with consumer expectations and encourage a greater use of wine alcohols which are in plentiful 
supply in the EEC 
Voting: 
For: 49. Against: 11. Abstentions: 23. 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 79/112/EEC on the 
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and 
advertising of foodstuffs for sale to the ultimate consumer 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 281 of 26 October 1982, page 3. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 21 October 1982 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic and 
Social Committee in accordance with Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 
206th plenary session held in Brussels on 23 and 24 March 1983. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 100 
thereof, Having regard to the request made by the Council of the 
European Communities on 21 October 1982 for an 
opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending 
Directive 79/112/EEC on the approximation of the laws 
of the Member States relating to the labelling, 
No C 124/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 5. 83 
presentation and adverting of foodstuffs for sale to the 
ultimate consumer, 
Having regard to the decision taken by the Committee 
Bureau on 27 October 1982, instructing the Section for 
Protection of the Environment, Public Health and 
Consumer Affairs to draw up an opinion on the 
matter, 
Having regard to the discussions at the 73rd meeting of 
this Section held on 1 March 1983, 
Having regard to the report made by the rapporteur, 
Mr Antonsen, 
Having regard to the discussions at its meeting on 
23 March 1983 (206th plenary session of 23 and 
24 March 1983), 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
by 80 votes to 14, with four abstentions: 
1. General comments 
1.1. The Committee approves the Commission's 
overall aim to improve consumer protection by 
introducing legislation relating to the labelling, 
presentation and advertising of foodstuffs. 
1.2. The Committee not only agrees with the 
Commission that in order to avoid discrimination it 
would be desirable if the provisions for all alcoholic 
beverages were brought into force at the same time and in 
a coordinated manner but finds that this is not only 
desirable but necessary. The Committee also feels that it 
should be compulsory to indicate alcoholic strength and 
ingredients on all alcoholic beverages. 
1.3. The Committee approves the introduction of the 
present proposal subject to the following observations. 
2. Specific comments 
2.1. Article 1 (1) 
making an addition to Article 3 (1) of the original 
Directive 79/112/EEC 
2.1.1. The Committee endorses the proposal that the 
alcoholic strength of beverages containing more than 
1,2 % by volume of alcohol should be indicated on the 
label or can. This information may be useful for 
consumers on several counts, e.g. it can assist them in 
comparing products. The Committee fundamentally supports the Commission 
view that the Directive should cover products containing 
more than 1,2 % by volume. It believes, however, that the 
minimum percentage threshold should be lowered to 
0,5% by volume in the interests of adequate consumer 
information. 
2.1.2. However, the Committee is of the opinion that 
the indication of alcoholic strength by volume, as 
proposed by the Commission, while traditional in some 
Member States, can create problems in others where 
alcoholic strength is traditionally indicated by weight 
percent or in terms of original gravity. 
2.2. Article 1 (2) 
amending Article 6 (3) of the original Directive 
The Committee endorses compulsory indication of 
ingredients provided that as regards their substance and 
date of entry into force the rules are such that there is no 
discrimination between the various products. 
2.3. Article 1 (3) 
making in addition to Article 6 (8) of the original 
Directive 
The Committee agrees with the proposal that water need 
not be specified as an ingredient as the beverage cannot be 
obtained without it. 
2.4. Article 1 (4) 
inserting a new Article 10a in the original Directive 
2.4.1. As far as the first part (a) of Article 10a is 
concerned, the Committee's observations are the same as 
for paragraph 2.2 above. 
2.4.2. As far as the second part (b) is concerned, 
referring to beer, ciders, perries, etc. the Committee 
agrees with the procedure provided for in Article 17 of the 
original Directive to refer the compilation of the rules to 
the Standing Committee on Foodstuffs. The Committee 
urges the Commission to consult the Advisory Committee 
on Foodstuffs before the decision is taken. 
2.5. Article 1 (5) 
amending Article 11 of the original Directive 
9. 5. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 124/25 
The Committee agrees with this amendment regarding 
the simultaneous visibility of particulars. 
2.6. Article 1 (6) 
making additions to Annex I of the original Directive The Committee approves the Commission's proposals 
concerning the additions to Annex I and proposes the 
following extra addition: 
Sucrose, glucose, fructose, If the finished product does 
used in brewing. not contain sugar, the 
declaration may be 
omitted. 
Done at Brussels, 23 March 1983. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francois CEYRAC 
ANNEX 
to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee 
Rejected amendments 
The following proposals for amendments which were tabled in accordance with the Rules of Procedure 
were rejected in the course of the proceedings: 
Paragraph 2.1.1: 
Regulation (EEC) No 355/79 should continue to govern information contained on wine labels. 
Reason: 
Regulation (EEC) No 355/79 provides for optional indication of alcohol content on vintage wines. 
This is standard practice only in Italy. Special information required by specific groups of consumers is 
thus taken into account, for instance wines which are suitable for diabetics bear an indication of the 
proportion of unfermented sugar and the alcohol content, as well as the physiological calorific value. 
To change this method of labelling unnecessarily would be quite detrimental from the aspect of 
consumer information. The alcohol content of a wine is not crucial in determining decision to purchase. 
The decisive factors in the case of vintage wines are the type of grape, locality, etc. 
Voting: 
For: 21. Against: 56. Abstentions: 13. 
Paragraph 2.2: 
Amend the first sentence to read as follows: 
'The Section welcomes the fact that ingredients have to be indicated to the extent that consumers need 
this information'. 
Reason: 
The information content of the label should not be marred by superfluous details, or there is a danger 
that the purpose of the label will be thwarted. The more information a label contains, the less 
No C 124/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 5. 83 
consumers are inclined to read it (opinion of the Consumer Consultative Committee (BVA) in 
document CC/29/81 rev. 4, ENV/159/81 of 16 October 1981). 
This applies particularly in the case of wine, which is not normally labelled to take account of the 
information requirements of individual consumer groups, although consideration is given to the needs 
of specific groups of people, such as diabetics. 
Voting: 
For: 17. Against: 70. Abstentions: 5. 
— Paragraph 2.6: 
Amend as follows: 
'The Section approves the Commission's proposals concerning the additions to Annex I, as regards 
hops. As regards indication of unmalted cereals, it opposes any exemptions from Article 6 (5) (b) of 
Directive 79/112/EEC 
Reason: 
In the interests of full consumer information it is imperative that the cereals used be indicated by their 
specific name. In the case of mixtures of unmalted cereal, it is essential to list the types of cereal used in 
decreasing order of weight. 
It is vital that consumers be informed which cereals are used, because different cereals have differing 
physiological properties. 
The argument that labels would have to be constantly changed because of frequent changes in the raw 
materials used does not hold up. It is perfectly feasible to use labels bearing details of all relevant 
adjuncts, and then indicate the actual raw material used, by underlining it, for example. The relatively 
high proportion of draught beer consumed in the EEC makes it easier to give a precise indication of the 
type of cereals used, since the expenditure incurred by the publican in changing the signs on beer taps is 
negligible in relation to the consumer information provided. Rice and maize used in brewing yield only 
carbohydrates whereas malt yields vitamins, minerals and amino acids, such as leucin and isoleucin. A 
shortage of leucin and isoleucin causes increased build-up of fusel oils in fermentation. These can 
among other things damage the liver, and are the cause of hangovers. 
This effect is even more marked in the case of beers made from maize than in the case of those made 
from rice. Consumers therefore need to know whether the beer they are drinking is: 
(a) made solely from malt, 
(b) malt plus rice, or 
(c) from maize. 
It is also known that, beers brewed from rice or maize can cause allergies. 
Voting: 
For: 40. Against: 52. Abstentions: 5.