There is currently EU legislation in place on the labelling of foodstuffs to enable European consumers to get comprehensive information on the contents and the composition of food products. Labelling helps consumers make an informed choice when purchasing their foodstuffs.
The White Paper on Food Safety published in 2000 announced the intention of the European Commission to amend the current legislation on labelling in order to more fully address consumers' needs and expectations in relation to dietary choices. In January 2003, as part of this initiative, the European Commission consulted member states and stakeholders on the application of the current Directive 90/496/EEC on nutrition labelling for foodstuffs, and requested comments on appropriate proposals for its amendment.