The recent decision surrounding country of origin labelling on the part of ENVI, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, is likely to prove the most challenging aspect in discussions over food information, as well as being detrimental to small businesses, says industry opinion following an April vote in Parliament.

These remarks were made by Renate Sommer, MEP, after the ENVI committee’s vote on 420 proposed changes to the current regulations on food information. The amendments covered the clarity of mandatory information on packaging, with a 1.5mm as a minimum font size, or 0.9mm for smaller packaging types of less than 80mm in size, in addition to the legibility of allergen labelling and the freezing dates on meat, poultry and fish.

However, country of origin labelling (COOL) is not likely to be relaxed. In fact the vote was to take the regulation even further, originally requiring COOL to be applied to meat from cows, goat, sheep, swine and poultry, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables, olive oil and honey. ENVI is in favour of COOL on all milk and dairy as well as meat and poultry and other sole-ingredient products, but also on meat, poultry and fish when included as ingredients in processed foods.

As well as commenting on how difficult discussions around this matter will become for the Parliament, Council and Commission, she also said that if approved in the first draft, due on 10 May – and then carried through to a final version, the implications for small and medium businesses would be immense.

Posted by Hayley on the 17th May 2011