WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3814/97 by Peter CRAMPTON to the Commission. Food labelling - peanut derivatives
Date: 1997-11-28
Institutions: CRAMPTON, European Parliament
Subjects: EU law, allergy, approximation of laws, consumer information, epidemiology, foodstuff, groundnut, health risk, labelling

C 174/134

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

8. 6. 98

(98/C 174/201)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3814/97

by Peter Crampton (PSE) to the Commission

(28 November 1997)

Subject: Food labelling › peanut derivatives

People suffering from an allergy to peanuts can unknowingly eat foods containing peanut derivatives. This is due
to unclear labelling of these foods, which in some cases can lead to a life-threatening situation.

Are there European level rules for the labelling of foods containing peanut derivatives?

If not, does the Commission have any plans for proposals to introduce clear labelling of these foods?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 1998)

The Commission is actively considering the need for amendments to the Community rules on food labelling in
order to ensure that consumers are properly informed of the presence of potential allergens in foods, including
peanuts and peanut oil.

At the request of the Commission, in September 1995, the scientific committee for food has produced a report on
food allergy and food intolerance. The conclusions of this report are currently being discussed with the Member
States.  In  addition,  discussions  on  the  labelling  of  allergens  are  taking  place  at  international  level  within  the
framework of the Codex Alimentarius.

This work will be supplemented, within the framework of scientific cooperation between Member States and
Commission,  by  a  collection  of  the  epidemiologic  data  available  (geographical  variations  and  frequency  and
gravity of over-sensitiveness). This is indeed necessary to determine criteria for the establishment of a list of
ingredients  recognised  as  a  source  of  allergy  or  of  intolerance  which,  if  they  are  used  in  a  foodstuff,  should
mandatorily be introduced in the list of ingredients which appear on labelling.

On  the  basis  of  the  results  of  this  epidemiologic  examination  which  should  be  known  in  June  1998,  the
Commission could then be in a position to propose an amendment of Directive 79/112/EEC of 18 December 1978
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 (1).

(1)  OJ L 33, 8.2.1979.

(98/C 174/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3815/97

by Caroline Jackson (PPE) to the Commission

(28 November 1997)

Subject: Net transfers to the EU budget

According to the Economist of 18 October 1997, the European Commission was unable, at a recent meeting of
Ecofin, to give figures for net contributions to the EU budget for each Member State. Given the importance of
this subject, and the high degree of public interest in it, will the Commission now take the opportunity to publish
the list of net contributions to the EU budget for each Member State, using the latest available figures?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(14 January 1998)

In  a  paper  forwarded  to  the  EcoFin  Council  (a  copy  is  sent  direct  to  the  Honourable  Member  and  to  the
Parliament(cid:146)s secretariat) the Commission explained the reasons why it does not produce estimates of budgetary
positions for the Member States.