The proposed Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims made on Foods, and the proposed Regulation on the Addition of Vitamins and Minerals to Foods (Fortification), have been welcomed as vital tools in the harmonisation of regulations across the bloc.
"The food industry as a whole has been behind the nutrition regulations, but we have been a bit of a lone voice in supporting the fortification regulations for the past ten years," Magdalena Luminska, a CEEREAL spokesperson told FoodNavigator. "This basically follows the guidelines that if an ingredient is safe, you can fortify your product with it."
The European Parliaments Environment Committee vote in favour of its draft recommendations for a second reading last week ensured that the proposed legislation has a strong chance of becoming law.
CEEREAL would like to congratulate ENVI Committee Members," said CEEREAL secretary general Alexander Jess.
"Although certain small issues of concern remain, the votes on both dossiers provide an excellent platform for agreement with the council. They should allow for the expeditious adoption of these two important pieces of legislation which will be of benefit to consumers and industry alike.
As regards Health Claims, CEEREAL is pleased that Members of the Environment Committee supported compromise amendments to key provisions, which it says should facilitate agreement with the Council.
On fortification, CEEREAL strongly supported the Council Common Position and welcomes the fact that it was broadly endorsed by the ENVI Committee.
However, certain issues of concern remain on both pieces of legislation, which CEEREAL hopes that European Parliament will address in its plenary vote. A small number of MEPS are trying to push through an amendment that would include some labelling obligation.
CEEREAL would like to see labelling regulations kept separate from the two ingredient bills.
The European Parliament will vote its Second Reading Opinion on both dossiers its plenary session of 15-18 May. CEEREAL hopes that the measures will then be adopted, and then published in August.
"These measures will harmonise approaches across Europe," said Luminska.