We move on to scrutiny of EU legislative proposals, including COM (2011) 353, which is being proposed for further action. It deals with food intended for infants and young children and food for special medical purposes. This regulation proposes to revise legislation on foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses covered by the so-called framework directive on dietetic foods, or foods for particular nutritional purposes, such as gluten-free foods for coeliac people, processed cereal-based food for young children, infant formulae for infants from birth, meal replacement foods for weight control, and so on. The regulation provides for a new framework establishing greater provisions for a limited number of well-established and defined categories of food considered as essential for certain vulnerable groups of the population, such as food intended for infants and young children and food for patients under medical supervision.
In view of the indication in the Department's information notice that there is likely to be strong opposition from industry and the European dietetic food industry association, it is proposed that this proposal warrants further scrutiny. It is also proposed to write to representatives from the industry to seek their views and concerns regarding the draft regulation. On the basis of the submission, the committee may assess whether further examination of the proposal is required. Is that agreed?
