CELEX: 51988PC0489(01)
Language: en
Date: 1988-10-05
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE ON THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPULSORY NUTRITION LABELLING OF FOODSTUFFS INTENDED FOR SALE TO THE ULTIMATE CONSUMER

No C 282/8                             Official Journal of the European Communities                                  5. 11. 88
                                                              II
                                                      (Preparatory Acts)
                                                 COMMISSION
              Proposal for a Council Directive (EEC) on the introduction of compulsory nutrition labelling of
                                  foodstuffs intended for sale to the ultimate consumer
                                               COM(88) 489 final — SYN 155
                             (Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 7 October 1988)
                                                        (88/C 282/06)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,                          HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
                                                                                             Article 1
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Economic Community, and in particular Article 100 (a)             1.    Where it is necessary to introduce compulsory
thereof,                                                          nutrition labelling for foodstuffs, the necessary measures
                                                                  shall be adopted by the Commission in accordance with
                                                                  the procedure laid down in Article 2 and after consul-
                                                                  tation of the Scientific Committee for Food.
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
                                                                  2.     For the purposes of determining whether it is
                                                                  necessary to introduce compulsory nutrition labelling,
In cooperation with the European Parliament,                      the following criteria shall be taken into consideration:
                                                                  (a) the existence of epidemiological evidence linking the
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and                       intake of certain foods or nutrients by the population
Social Committee,                                                      or by substantial groups thereof to specific diseases;
                                                                  (b) the need to improve the nutrition status of the popu-
Whereas it is important that measures should be adopted                lation or substantial groups thereof.
with a view to the progressive establishment of the
internal market by 31 December 1992; whereas the
internal market will embrace an area without internal              3.    In the preparation of the measures consideration
frontiers in which freedom of movement is ensured for             shall be given to their practicality and effectiveness
goods, persons, services and capital;                              compared to other measures through which the same
                                                                  goals could be achieved.
Whereas on . . . the Council adopted Directive . . . on            4.    Any Member State may draw the Commission's
nutrition labelling rules for foodstuffs intended for sale         attention to evidence that the criteria laid down in
to the ultimate consumer;                                          paragraph 2 are satisfied.
                                                                                             Article 2
Whereas as a result of the current intense scientific
 activity on the subject of the relationship between diet         Where the procedure laid down in this Article is to be
 and health, it may be necessary for some elements of              followed the representative of the Commission shall
 nutrition labelling to become compulsory;                         submit to the standing Committee a draft of the
                                                                   measures to be taken.
Whereas the necessary specific rules are implementing              The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft,
 measures of a technical nature; whereas their adoption            within a time limit which the Chairman may law down
 should be entrusted to the Commission in order to                 according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by
 simplify and expedite the procedure,                              taking a vote.
 ---pagebreak--- 5. 11. 88                            Official Journal of the European Communities                            No C 282/9
The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition                               Article 3
each Member State shall have the right to ask to have its
                                                                Member States shall, by . . . , bring into force by law,
position recorded in the minutes.
                                                                regulation or administrative action any provisions
                                                                necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall
The Commission shall take the utmost account of the             forthwith inform the Commission thereof.
opinion delivered by the Committee. It shall inform the                                 Article 4
Committee of the manner in which its opinion has been
taken into account.                                             This Directive is addressed to the Member States.