WRITTEN QUESTION E-2923/00 by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Food labelling with specific reference to disease risk reduction information on food packs.
Date: 2000-09-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: consumer information, disease prevention, food safety, foodstuff, labelling, public health

C 113 E/214

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 2000)

The Commission intends to take immediate measures to help protect fish stocks in the deep sea.

These stocks are widely distributed in Community waters, international waters and also in the waters of
other countries in the Northeast Atlantic, and so it is important that a co-ordinated approach should be
taken by the relevant states. As a first step, the Commission has tabled a discussion of the management of
the deep-sea resources at the next meeting of the Northeast Atlantic fisheries commission. It is hoped that
substantive progress on agreeing common courses of action will be achieved.

Notwithstanding the outcome of these discussions, the Commission intends, as an interim measure, to
propose catch limits (cid:129) total allowable catches (TACs) (cid:129) for deepwater species in the Northeast Atlantic
area. These TACs would be proposed according to the most recent scientific advice available from the
International council for the exploration of the sea (ICES). The Commission also notes the need for
equitable allocations of resources between Member States, and will make appropriate proposals to that
effect.

The Commission is aware that ICES has recommended that for many species the directed fishing effort
should be reduced. The Commission will
therefore consider such measures for future application.
Consultations will be held with interested parties before specific proposals are made in this context.

The Commission will also examine measures to improve scientific knowledge of these resources and
consider appropriate proposals.

The Commission(cid:146)s proposals will be intended to achieve long-term sustainability of the deep-sea fisheries,
concomitant with precautionary and rational exploitation of the fish stocks and the ecosystems on which
they depend.

(2001/C 113 E/231)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2923/00

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 September 2000)

Subject: Food labelling with specific reference to disease risk reduction information on food packs

Does the Commission agree that there is a need for urgent action in the context of proposed measures on
functional foods to authorise disease risk reduction information on food packs, provided that the benefits
described are based on sufficient and recognised scientific findings and have been reviewed and confirmed
by an independent body within the European Union, recognising that there is a distinction between
provision of disease risk reduction information and claims that particular foods prevent, treat or cure a
disease?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(27 October 2000)

There is no definition of (cid:145)functional foods(cid:146) in Community legislation. This is because, given that each food,
of whatever kind, has a function, there is no justification for describing foods that belong to a particular
category as (cid:145)functional(cid:146).

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/215

With regard to the claims concerning the reduction in the risk of disease, as has already been pointed out
on several occasions, pursuant to Article 2 of Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 20 March 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the
labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs (1), it is not permissible to attribute to any foodstuff the
property of preventing,
treating or curing a human disease, or to refer to such properties. Claims
concerning the reduction in the risk of contracting a disease come under this ban.

As the Commission indicated in the White Paper on Food Safety (2), it believes that there is no need to
change the principle of this provision.

As stated in the White Paper, however, the Commission will consider whether specific provisions should
be introduced into Community law to govern nutritional claims and functional claims concerning the
beneficial effects of a nutrient on certain normal bodily functions. The establishment of a strict framework
for this type of claim will be the first stage in an overall commitment to provide consumers with
information that is reliable, scientifically sound and appropriate to the nature of these products, so that
they can make choices that are beneficial for their health and general well-being.

(1) OJ L 109, 6.5.2000.
(2) COM(1999) 719 final.

(2001/C 113 E/232)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2925/00

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 September 2000)

Subject: Apportioning of European grants

Can the Commission indicate what proportion of European Union grants is allocated to each of the
Member States, and has it taken steps to ensure that there is not an imbalance in the distribution of grants
in favour of some states at the expense of others?

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2000)

The Commission regularly reports on the allocation of Community expenditure by Member State in an
annual report entitled (cid:145)Allocation of EU Expenditure by Member State(cid:146). The latest report for the year 1999
has just been released and is available to all on the world wide web at the following address:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/budget/pdf/agenda2000/allocatedreport99.pdf.

The allocation of Community expenditure across the Member States is the result, to a dominant extent, of
rules governing the implementation of the policy objectives of the Community. These rules are jointly
determined by the Council, the Parliament and the Commission. For instance, Member States where the
needs for regional convergence towards the Community average are greatest tend to benefit more than
others from the allocation of structural funds. Similarly, Member States where agricultural activity is
prominent tend to benefit more from the allocation of expenditure under the common agricultural policy.
The data in the report (cid:145)Allocation of EU Expenditure by Member State(cid:146) are consistent with and confirm
these principles.