Controversial Nutrient Profiles Scheme Moves Up to Barroso Level

These included among other things criticism that the draft proposal was based on a restrictive approach that would reduce innovation incentives for certain food categories, and that it could jeopardise the sustainability and development of a range of food categories in Europe.

14/05/09 Lack of consensus among EU Member States and internal opposition over the European Commission’s proposal for a nutrient profiling scheme has led the issue straight to the cabinet of Commission President José Manuel Barroso. Miguel Da Silva, Adviser at international food and nutrition policy consultancy EAS, said in a recent podcast interview that pressure on the Commission from the EU Member States, the European Parliament, the food sector and other stakeholders, as well as strong internal opposition within the Commission itself to a draft proposal by the Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Consumers (DG Sanco) which is in charge of developing the profiles, has led to the cabinet of President Barroso becoming involved in the discussions to try to find an acceptable solution.

Nutrient profiles has been the subject of intense debate among the EU Member States in recent months, but DG Sanco received an additional blow in March this year when it circulated its proposal internally within other Commission services and it came back with a host of negative opinions. These included among other things criticism that the draft proposal was based on a restrictive approach that would reduce innovation incentives for certain food categories, and that it could jeopardise the sustainability and development of a range of food categories in Europe. Concerns were also raised about the proportionality of the proposal and its respect for the principle of equal treatment.

“Of course, none of these criticisms are new,” said Mr Da Silva, “however, these comments now come from within the Commission itself, which makes things quite challenging for everyone involved. Members of the Barroso Cabinet are now coordinating the discussions on the setting of nutrient profiles. This illustrates how political these discussions have become – at the  highest level possible! ”

The deadline originally set in the EU’s Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation for adopting a profiling system was January 2009, which has not been met. Mr Da Silva said: “We understand that the Commission was aiming for adoption at least before the European elections in June 2009. However, this now appears to be highly unlikely. I would expect that now that there is no urgency to have the profiles adopted before the elections, the Commission is taking the necessary time to consider its next steps.”