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Food Labelling

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2018

Tuesday, 3 July 2018

Questions (307)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

307. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of the development and publication of nutrient profiles to avoid misleading the public on the health claims of food products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28926/18]

View answer

Written answers

The establishment of nutrient profiles is foreseen in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims, which states: “By 19 January 2009, the Commission shall, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2), establish specific nutrient profiles and the conditions, including exemptions, which shall be respected for the use of nutrition and health claims on foods and/or categories of foods”.

As Article 4 clearly makes provision for the establishment and implementation of nutrient profiles at EU level, a harmonised approach is the preferred solution. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has advised that in its opinion developing nutrient profiles at national level is not considered a practical approach given the nature and extent of the food supply in Ireland.

To date, this aspect of the Regulation remains incomplete. Following the Better Regulation Communication of 19 May 2015, the Commission announced that, as part of its REFIT programme, it would carry out an evaluation of the Nutrition and Health Claims (NHC) Regulation with regard to, inter alia, nutrient profiles for determining whether products high in certain nutrients (in particular, salt, sugar and fat) can bear claims.

A study was commissioned to the Food Chain Evaluation Consortium (FCEC) in May 2016 and Member States were subsequently surveyed. The data from the survey across all Member States was to be analysed and presented in the form of a report to the Commission. It is my understanding that the report has not yet been finalised for circulation by the Commission.

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