WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3066/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Labelling of foodstuffs
Date: 1997-10-02
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: advertising, alcoholic beverage, approximation of laws, foodstuff, labelling, preparation for market

C 134/68

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30. 4. 98

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(11 November 1997)

The  Commission  proposal  for  a  European  Parliament  and  Council  Directive  on  marking  of  packaging  was
adopted  on  25  November  1996.  This  proposal  completes  Directive  94/62/EC  by  introducing  the  marking
symbols  which  should  be  used,  and  the  assessment  procedure  for  the  compliance  of  the  packaging  with  the
essential requirements of the Directive.

The  aim  of  the  marking  proposal  is  to  inform  consumers  when  packaging  can  be  reused  or  recycled.
Furthermore, the Commission proposal seeks to remove the current confusion on the market by defining one
symbol for reusable and one symbol for recyclable packaging.

In the marking proposal only packaging that is reusable or recyclable according to the requirement laid down in
Directive  94/62/EEC  can  be  marked.  The  system  is  voluntary,  but  if  a  producer  wants  to  indicate  that  the
packaging is reusable or recyclable the symbols must be used. Others will not be allowed. A broad variety of
different symbols and labels regarding recyclability and reusability are used by manufacturers at present, which
often confuse consumers about the environmental performance of packaging.

The  Commission  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  discussions  on  the  proposal  for  a  directive  on  marking  in  the
Parliament and the Council should be finalised before taking further steps regarding marking of packaging.

(98/C 134/86)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3066/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(2 October 1997)

Subject: Labelling of foodstuffs

The Commission has submitted a proposal for a European Parliament and 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 (COM(97) 20 final › 97/0027 COD) (1).

While the Commission proposal is to be welcomed, does the Commission not consider that it would be more
proper for the specific labelling procedures for alcoholic drinks to be laid down by the Standing Committee on
Foodstuffs rather than by the committees responsible for COMs?

(1)  OJ C 106, 4.4.1997, p. 5

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(11 November 1997)

The  Community  regulations  applicable  to  wines,  sparkling  wines,  liqueur  wines,  semi-sparkling  wines,
aromatised wines and spirit drinks already contain labelling provisions for the same. The Commission therefore
considered  it  logical  that  the  rules  for  labelling  the  ingredients  of  these  beverages  be  adopted  within  the
framework of those same regulations in accordance with the applicable procedures. This choice is also justified
by  the  fact  that  the  experts  who  meet  on  the  committees  which  deal  with  these  regulations  have  a  detailed
knowledge of the specific nature of the beverages in question.

The Standing Committee for Foodstuffs procedure established by Council Decision 69/414/EEC of 13 November
1969 (1)  has  been  selected  for  beverages  which,  like  beer  or  cider,  are  not  covered  by  vertical  Community
legislation.

(1)  OJ L 291, 19.11.1969.