The Oxford Health Alliance | www.oxha.org

The European Commission (EC) has published a proposal for stricter food-labelling rules across the 27 EU nations. Although the proposal will have to go before the European Council and European Parliament, the EC wants to see a mandatory declaration on the front of all packages for six elements – energy, total fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, sugar and salt.

Each individual country will have the voluntary option of developing their own additional schemes if they wish to do so. However, the alcohol industry will largely escape the new requirements, although manufacturers of ‘alcopops’ will have to list nutritional information.

It is unknown when the new proposals might come into force, but manufacturers would be given a three –year transition period during which to adapt to the new rules.

The push for tougher labelling has been strongly backed by consumer groups in their efforts to push for government legislation against the food and drink industry in the fight against obesity.

Source: Financial Times, 30 January 2008