Specific compositional and information requirements for processed cereal-based food and baby food

2015/2863(DEA)

The European Parliament adopted by 355 votes to 308, with 44 abstentions, a resolution objecting to Commission Delegated Regulation of 25 September 2015 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the specific compositional and information requirements for processed cereal-based food and baby food.

The reasons which motivated Parliament’s objection to the Commission delegated regulation are the following:

  • Obesity: Parliament considered that the delegated regulation does not contain sufficient measures to protect infants and young children against obesity and that the allowed maximum sugar level should be substantially lowered in line with WHO recommendations. The delegated regulation allows 30 % of the energy in baby foods to be provided by sugar (7.5 g sugar/100 kcal is equivalent to 30 kcal from sugar in 100 kcal energy). These are contrary to all health advice from the WHO – which recommends limiting the intake of free sugars to less than 10 % of total energy intake, with a further reduction to less than 5 % of total energy intake for additional health benefits.
  • Emerging technologies: Parliament considered that, in line with the precautionary principle, emerging technologies such as GMOs and nanotechnologies, whose long-term risks are not known, should be prohibited in processed cereal-based food and baby food.
  • Labelling: taking the view that, in consideration of global public health recommendations, including World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution 63.23, the WHA Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding and the global impact of exports from the Union to third countries, the labelling and marketing of processed baby foods should make it clear that these products are not adequate for use by infants of less than six months of age and should not undermine the six-month exclusive breastfeeding recommendation. Therefore, the labelling and marketing should be revised in line with WHA recommendations for foods for infants and young children.
  • Transparency: in order to build public trust in Union institutions and EU decision making, Parliament is of the opinion that the list of ‘bilateral meetings’ (including the dates thereof and participants) which the Commission has held with interested parties during the process of drafting the delegated regulation should be made public.