Brussels 17 March 2011 Michael Hübel European Commission Health & Consumers DG What is not on the...
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Transcript of Brussels 17 March 2011 Michael Hübel European Commission Health & Consumers DG What is not on the...
Brussels17 March 2011
Michael Hübel European Commission
Health & Consumers DG
What is not on the bottle
Commission input
Labelling
Ingredients?Energy content? Warning labels? Unit size? Regulatory/voluntary?
Consumer labelling of alcoholic beverages
Regulation at EU level
Regulations on labelling foodstuffs1)
- inform and protect consumers
Regulations specific to alcoholic beverages2)
- inform consumers, protect interests of manufacturers
Voluntary labelling initiatives
1. 2000/13/EC2. Spirits: EC 110/2008; aromatized wines: EEC 1601/91, EEC 122/94; wines:
1493/1999/CE, 2002/753/CE, EC 316/2004, EC 479/2008, EC 491/2009, EC 607/2009
EU Alcohol and Health Strategy five priority themes
Protect young people children and unborn child
Reduce injuries and death from alcohol related accidents
Alcohol related harm at workplace
Inform educate and raise awareness on the impact of harmful hazardous alcohol consumption
Develop and maintain a common evidence base at ET
EU Alcohol and Health Forum- Voluntary warnings – some examples
Pregnancy-related risksPernod-Ricard 2006
Implementation by 2008
Pregnancy, drink driving and sales to underage
SABMiller, 2008 revised policy on commercial communication
National warning and information initiatives
France 2007pregnancy-related risks
Germany 2004age limit for “alcopops”
UK Government/industry voluntary agreement 2007
UnitsLower-risk guidelinesPregnancy-related risks
Opportunities for further voluntary action?
Alcohol units: units / grams / centilitres?UK “unit” = 8gDanish “genstand” = 12gAustrian “Standardglas” = 20g
Depending on outcome of food information discussion:
Energy content: kcal or kJ in standard amountSpecific ingredients in alcoholic energy drinks or mixers
Opportunities for further voluntary action?More information on pregnancy-related risks
Across the EUAcross all productsBetter visibilityMore information content
Alerting to risk Risks of accidents and injuries
Drink-drivingWork, sports etc. – rotating warningsRisks of mixing with certain medications
To increase reach and impact: similar warnings in
Retail shops, pubs, bars and other alcohol outlets
Context of the review
Simplification and modernisationInformed choices – safe, healthy dietMaking the labels efficient
what information is needed and used?how should it be presented?
Protection of the internal market
COMMISSION PROPOSAL FOR A REGULATION ON THE PROVISION OF FOOD INFORMATION TO
CONSUMERS (COM(2008) 40 FINAL)
Some of the targeted Issues
SimplificationGeneral principlesLegibility of labelNon-prepacked foodOrigin labelling Alcoholic beveragesNutrition information
Legibility – Commission proposalMinimum font size of 3mm
Significant contrast between print and background
Voluntary information not to be displayed to the detriment of the space available for mandatory information
Exemption from minimum font size for packs with a largest surface of <10cm2
First Reading Opinions - legibility
EP (June 2010) COUNCIL
(February 2011)Deletes requirements for a minimum font size
Maintain principle of a minimum font size
Introduces a definition of legibility
Introduces criteria to determine the minimum font size
Requires the Commission to adopt Guidelines on legibility
Other aspects of legibility to be identified
Coverage of Alcoholic beverages – Commission proposal
Alcoholic drinks, including ready to drink mixtures, to include full ingredient list and nutrition informationDerogations for beer, wine and spirits pending a review by the Commission to determine suitable labelling of these foods after 5 years of the entry into force of the Regulation
EP first reading opinion – alcoholic beverages
Excludes all alcoholic beverages from: ingredient list and
nutrition information
Council first reading position – alcoholic beverages
Extends the Commission’s proposed list of exemptions of alcoholic drinks to competitive products (e.g. cider, mead)
Next steps
Codecision procedure - Adoption by European Parliament and the CouncilTransition
3 years after the entry into force
Commission report on alcohol labelling after 5 years
Further info
DG Health & Consumers websitehttp://ec.europa.eu/health http://ec.europa.eu/health/alcohol/policy/index_en.htm
EU Information System on Alcohol and Healthhttp://apps.who.int/globalatlas/default.asp
EU Public Health Portalhttp://health.europa.eu