Claims that the EU is planning to ban the English names of fish and force retailers to replace them with Latin names on food packaging are unfounded, according to Catheribne Eva, Head of the European Commission's Representation in Wales , News Wales reports this week. The European Commission has proposed clearer labelling on the packaging of fish products to ensure that consumers are properly informed about what they are buying. Labels would include the exact name of the fish, how it was produced, and where it was caught. These proposals will be discussed on Tuesday 11 September in the Fisheries Management Committee of the European Commission. Three Member States (France, Portugal and Sweden) have also proposed putting Latin names on labels in addition to the original national name. This is not supported by the Commission or by the majority of EU member states. Commenting on the reports, Catherine Eva said, "There is no Commission support for the use of Latin names on food labelling. The aim of these proposals is to ensure that consumers are given as much information as possible about the food they are eating."
