Delay to EU Specialized Food Rules Review

IDACE fears that the delay will effectively postpone the establishment of an updated legal framework required by European consumers, 90% of whom will require specialised nutrition at some point in their lives.

15 Mar 2012 --- The EU Parliament has opted for a second reading agreement for revisions to the EU specialised foods framework (also known as PARNUTs).

IDACE, the association representing the EU specialised nutrition industry, welcomes the efforts taken thus far by the European Institutions on the revision of the EU specialised foods framework (also known as PARNUTs), but regrets the decision stating that it may cause severe delays and legal uncertainty for both vulnerable consumers and the industry.

Roger Clarke, Member of the IDACE Operational Board, comments: “We are disappointed in the European Parliament’s decision to delay these critical negotiations by requesting a second reading agreement, in particular given the progress and compromises so far achieved by and within the European Institutions. We hope that second reading negotiations will move swiftly, and we urge all institutions to keep the protection of vulnerable consumers at the heart of the revision process.”

IDACE fears that the delay will effectively postpone the establishment of an updated legal framework required by European consumers, 90% of whom will require specialised nutrition at some point in their lives.

IDACE has engaged with decision makers throughout the review to explain the importance of the revised rules for all categories of specialised nutrition, in particular those categories of food which the Commission’s proposal intended to remove from the specialised food rules, effectively moving them under general food law.

IDACE say that since the launch of negotiations, the Council and Parliament have made important progress on this dossier, acknowledging that the initial Commission proposal went too far in its simplification and harmonisation efforts, and cooperating in order to provide appropriate legal solutions which will protect the categories of vulnerable consumers neglected by the European Commission’s proposal, including coeliac patients, obese and overweight consumers, athletes, and infants aged 12-36 months.