Tag: labelling

Some 80% of Europeans are concerned by the environmental impact of their purchases but only one-quarter say they “often” buy green products, reveals the latest EU opinion poll.

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso on Tuesday (5 March) strongly defended the EU's response to the horsemeat scandal that has shaken consumer confidence and, more broadly, could have repercussions for international trade.

Consumers will no longer be at risk of buying by mistake textiles that contain real fur or leather after the European Parliament backed new labelling rules yesterday (11 May). 

Labelling consumer products with their carbon footprint is not the best approach to combating global warming as the labels at their worst increase negative environmental impacts and mislead consumers, according to European consumer organisation ANEC.

The European Parliament yesterday (25 November) gave its final blessing to a new EU regulation that will introduce fuel efficiency labels for all new tyres from November 2012.

All new tyres will be stamped with a label indicating fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise performance in three years' time, EU negotiators agreed yesterday (1 October).

The Parliament has held back its opinion on a new EU regulation on organic production and labelling rules, aimed at buying more time to negotiate on legislative powers and restrict the GMO content of organic products.

Food labelling and advertising to children are two areas where industry is unlikely to be able to self-regulate and legislation is therefore required, argues Sue Davies from the UK consumer organisation Which?.

The new EU legislation on labelling and traceability of GMOs will enter into force on 18 April. All stakeholders agree that this is an important step towards better consumer information and choice.

The EU's Standing Committee on Seeds will on 22 September discuss the Commission's proposal on labelling and traceability of GMOs in conventional seeds.

The US farm industry sees the EU's new GM food traceability and labelling system a potentially bigger barrier to trade than the informal moratorium on GM food authorisations.

On the occasion of the international fair trade conference hosted by the King Baudouin Foundation on 28 May 2003, Mr Schlegelmilch said the Commission supports fair trade initiatives and it is making an effort to find ways in the world trading system to ensure that fair trade products remain competitive.

The Commission has adopted a modified proposal for an herbal medicines Directive, extending the simplified registration procedure to medicinal products containing non-herbal ingredients. The Council is expected to come to a common position on this proposal in June.

The EU's Environment Ministers agreed on 9 December on a set of tough and comprehensive labelling and traceability rules for products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) used directly as food or animal feed or in food processing.

On 21 November, MEPs voted in favour of creating a new registration system and labelling regime for traditional herbal medicinal products.

The EU Agriculture Council has failed to reach a compromise on new rules for genetically modified products, keeping the four year moratorium on GMOs in place.

On 14 and 17 October, the Agriculture and Environment Councils were expected to take key decisions on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). However, the decisions are likely to be postponed due to major disagreements among the Member States regarding the rules on labelling and traceability of GM products.

The Commission has proposed labelling rules for energy drinks, to clearly indicate if they contain high levels of caffeine or quinine.

The European Parliament is expected to adopt two proposals on the traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms on 3 July. The two proposals will be more restrictive for producers and provide more information to consumers.

On Monday 27 May, the EU Agriculture ministers will meet in Brussels for the Agriculture Council. Among other issues, they will discuss a proposal for Regulation on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs.

On 17 July 2001 the European Patent Office granted Seabright (now renamed 'Genesis') a patent concerning the use of growth hormone genetic modification technology for salmon and other fish. The patent application mentions experiments leading to salmons eight times bigger than normal salmon.

New directive on labelling expected soon, making it compulsory to list all ingredients of foodstuffs and to label allergens

EU-US Biotechnology Consultative Forum calls for stronger regulation of genetically engineered food in the US.

EU agriculture ministers agreed on the proposed legislation for a system of labelling beef.