Brendan Howlin
Question:73 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the introduction of mandatory nutritional labelling of foodstuffs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Labelling of Foodstuffs.
Proposals made by the European Commission for compulsory nutritional labelling of foodstuffs were recently considered by the EC Council but a majority of the member states were not satisfied as to the need for such a measure.
However, the Council recently reached a common position on a proposal for a directive which makes nutritional labelling compulsory where a nutrition claim is made. The proposal also lays down detailed rules as to the information to be included where nutritional labelling is provided.
The 1980 report of the Food Advisory Committee on nutritional labelling and claims recommended that nutritional labelling of foodstuffs should be encouraged but did not advocate compulsory nutritional labelling as such. Consumers are becoming more conscious of the relationship between diet and health and are demanding additional information on product labels to enable them to make informed choices. I welcome this move on the part of consumers and should add that the industry has been quick to respond to the demands by voluntarily providing nutritional labelling in many cases. This nutritional labelling will have to comply with the detailed rules laid down in the aforementioned proposed directive when it is adopted and implemented in the member states.