Seán Barrett
Question:72 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to amend existing legislation to provide for compulsory nutrition labelling of products.
Written Answers. - Products Nutritional Labelling.
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 was not satisfied as to the need for such a measure at this stage.
However, the Council of the European Communities recently adopted a directive which makes nutritional labelling compulsory where a nutrition claim is made. The directive also lays down detailed rules as to the information to be included where nutritional labelling is provided and must be implemented by 1995.
The general feeling among member states is that it would be prudent to monitor the impact and effect of the directive when implemented before taking on board the major implications attaching to a scheme of compulsory nutritional labelling of all products.
The 1990 Report of the Food Advisory Committee on Nutritional Labelling and Claims recommended that nutritional labeling of foodstuffs should be encouraged but did not advocate compulsory nutritional labelling. 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. The application of the detailed rules laid down in the aforementioned directive will considerably enhance decision making on the part of the consumer by ensuring that information is given in a standardised format, thereby facilitating comparison between products.