Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods COM(2007) 368 final — 2007/0128 (COD)
Date: 2007-09-26
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: consumer information, consumer protection, foodstuff, health policy, labelling, nutrition

C 10/58

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

15.1.2008

3.6
Although Directive 96/22/EC originally aimed to ban the
use of oestradiol 17ß and its ester-like derivates for all purposes,
it ultimately did no more than limit the circumstances in which
oestradiol 17ß may be administered for purposes other than
growth promotion. This product is totally carcinogenic, as it can
both cause and promote tumours.

3.7
The report presented to the Council and Parliament on
11 October 2005 concludes that because the use of alternative
substances such as prostaglandins is widespread, use of oestra-
diol 17ß could be phased out for food-producing animals.

Pet animals affected by hyperthyroidism often suffer as a

3.8
result of the ongoing unavailability of appropriate treatment.

4. Comments

The European Economic and Social Committee takes

4.1
note of the measures proposed by the European Commission.

Brussels, 26 September 2007

4.2
The changes proposed in relation to oestradiol 17ß are
the direct result of the activities required by Article 11(a) of
Directive 2003/74/EC.

4.3
The changes made are extremely limited and are needed
to prevent the further suffering of pet animals as a result of no
appropriate treatment being available.

This proposal is relevant to pet owners, practicing veteri-
industry and Member

the veterinary pharmaceutical

4.4
narians,
State authorisation agencies.

The proposal will help to ensure a high level of protec-

4.5
tion of human health.

4.6
New authorisations must, however, consider potential
misuse and products that are likely to be misused could, there-
fore, be rejected.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Dimitris DIMITRIADIS

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Regulation of the
European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and
health claims made on foods’

COM(2007) 368 final — 2007/0128 (COD)

(2008/C 10/16)

On 26 July 2007 the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under
Article 95 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposal.

Since the Committee unreservedly endorses the contents of the proposal and has already set out its views
on the subject in its earlier opinions CESE 308/2004 and CESE 1571/2006, adopted on 26 February 2004
and 13 December 2006 (*), it decided, at its 438th plenary session of 26 and 27 September 2007, by
163 votes to 1 with 7 abstentions, to issue an opinion endorsing the proposal and to refer to the position it
had taken in the above-mentioned documents.

Brussels, 26 September 2007.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Dimitris DIMITRIADIS

(*) EESC opinions on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on nutrition and health claims
made on foods — COM(2003) 424 final — 2003/0165 COD (OJ C 110 of 30.4.2004) and on the Proposal for a Regu-
lation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No …/… on nutrition and health claims made
on foods — COM(2006) 607 final — 2006/0195 COD (OJ C 325 of 30.12.2006).