WRITTEN QUESTION E-3164/03 by Säid El Khadraoui (PSE) to the Commission. Warning labels on alcohol.
Date: 2003-10-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: alcoholic beverage, beverage industry, consumer information, health policy, labelling, public awareness campaign, young person

C 70 E/228

Official Journal of the European Union

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20.3.2004

management of the Structural Funds. In July 2003 such a system test was carried out in Denmark by the
audit and control services of the Commission. The Commission concluded at that time that the Danish
system did indeed provide sufficient assurance.

The Danish Managing Authority is aware of the allegations levelled at POEM and has initiated the carrying
out of further controls of the project to ascertain the validity of the allegations in order to determine
appropriate action. The Commission is closely monitoring the Danish Managing Authority’s control of the
project concerned and any actions to be taken. If ESF funds have been wrongly paid out, they will be
recovered by the Danish Managing Authority.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2004/C 70 E/245)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3164/03

by Säid El Khadraoui (PSE) to the Commission

(24 October 2003)

Subject: Warning labels on alcohol

In the United Kingdom there have been calls for some time for alcohol products to carry warning labels in
is not waiting for legislation but has
the same way as tobacco products. Cains Brewery in Liverpool
introduced a label on its ‘2008 Celebration Ale’ advising against alcohol abuse. The label carries the
following message:
‘Alcohol advice: Robert Cain supports responsible drinking. Excessive drinking can
cause harm. Observe the daily guidelines for sensible drinking. Do not drink and drive.’

Alcohol abuse causes a great use of suffering in society. In the Commission’s view, what responsibility do
alcohol producers bear for this situation?

What is the Commission’s opinion of warning labels on alcohol?

Will the Commission take steps to make warning labels on alcohol products compulsory? If so, what
measures will
take and when? What message and/or illustrations does the Commission consider
appropriate?

it

If not, what is the Commission doing to draw the attention of alcohol producers to their responsibility for
warning their customers against excessive consumption of alcohol?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 2003)

The Commission fully shares the concerns of the Honourable Member on the problems related to the
abuse of alcohol. In the Commission’s view industry plays an important role given their responsibility for
the products development, marketing and selling of their products. This concerns especially industry
activities towards children and young people. In this respect, the Commission should also like to draw the
attention of the Honourable Member to the Council Recommendation of 5 June 2001 on the drinking of
alcohol by young people (1), in particular children and adolescents.

Warning labels on alcohol could be an effective means to convey important health messages about alcohol
to the public. As far as the Commission is aware, this is not yet the practice in any Member State whereas
in the United States these warning labels have been compulsory for a long time.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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At present, the Commission has no plans to pursue legislation to make warning labels on alcohol products
compulsory. It should be noted that the Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 of 29 May 1989 laying
down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks (2) constitutes the
existing Community legislation on labelling of spirit drinks.

The Commission has paid special attention to protecting young people, because in several Member States
problems due to the drinking of alcohol by children and adolescents have risen in recent years. Referring
to this, the above mentioned Council Recommendation on the drinking of alcohol by young people
proposes that Member States should encourage,
in co-operation with the producers and retailers of
alcoholic beverages, the establishment of effective mechanisms to ensure that alcoholic beverages are not
promoted to appeal to children and adolescents, paying particular attention to avoiding the implication
that sporting success is linked to alcohol use.

The Commission’s emphasis is on effective self-regulation. In recent meetings with representatives of the
alcohol industry the Commission has, however, stressed the need for industry to comply with the Council
Recommendation and with the existing codes of conduct. Further efforts by industry are needed to
improve the functioning and the effectiveness of such codes.

(1) OJ L 161, 16.6.2001.
(2) OJ L 160, 12.6.1989.

(2004/C 70 E/246)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3166/03

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(20 October 2003)

Subject: The Commission’s compliance with the decisions of the European Court of Justice

In its welcome answer to question E-1804/03 (1) the Commission states that it is not engaged in any
proceedings against Sinaga, which means that the case opposing the possibility of shipping sugar from the
Azores (Case C 2002-1098) has therefore ceased to exist and that the Commission is thus respecting the
judgement of 15 May 2003 in Case C-282/00 of the European Court of Justice.

The fact that the Commission is complying with the Court’s decision removes the reasons which led the
Commission not to implement the Poseima regulations fully, and hence there is also nothing to prevent
the 3 000-tonne increase in the supply of white sugar, produced from unrefined sugar, requested by
Sinaga.

Can the Commission therefore confirm that it has acted on the request mentioned in the question’s title?

(1) OJ C 33 E, 6.2.2004, p. 173.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 2003)

As guardian of
scrupulously respects the Court of Justice’s decisions.

the Treaties the Commission watches over compliance with Community law and

In its judgment in Case C-282/00 the Court upheld the principle maintained by the Commission of
freedom to ship or export sugar obtained from beet harvested in the Azores.

In the same judgment it confirmed the Commission’s position on shipment to the European mainland or
exportation of refined sugar produced in the Azores from raw sugar supplied to the islands under the
specific supply arrangements (SSA)
introduced by Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92, now replaced by
Regulation (EC) No 1453/2001 (1).