WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1538/98 by Phillip WHITEHEAD to the Commission. Nutrition
22. 2. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 50/47 (1999/C 50/065) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1538/98 by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission (18 May 1998) Subject: Nutrition When will the Commission present the review of the nutritional labelling directive? What research has the Commission undertaken to assess how comprehensive nutritional labelling can be offered to consumers in a meaningful way? Does the Commission intend to mandate nutritional labelling? Will the provisions include controls on nutritional claims? Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (23 June 1998) The Commission is currently examining what legal action needs to be taken in the coming years as regards food law. Following this examination the Commission will establish the order of priority of the different actions to be taken. The Commission investigates with the interested parties and discusses at international level in the Codex Alimentarius the best way to inform consumers about the nutritional characteristics of foodstuffs. The Commission will take a decision as to whether it will propose that nutritional labelling should be mandatory, as such, once the above-mentioned preparatory work is finished. The Commission orientates its reflections towards creating a legal framework for health and nutritional claims in the context of a revision of the Council Directive 79/112/EEC of 18 December 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs for sale to the ultimate consumer (1). (1) OJ L 33, 8. 2. 1979. (1999/C 50/066) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1562/98 by Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE) to the Commission (20 May 1998) Subject: Technology as part of European culture The magazine The Economist recently reported on an unusual exhibition opened in Japan by Londonís Science Museum displaying pioneering British technology such as Bessemerís converter, John Logie Bairdís television and the Rocketí steam locomotive. Other European museums have doubtless organized or plan to organize similar exhibitions, showing that the countries concerned see technology as a crucial part of their culture. Bearing in mind the existence of a European Association for the Study of Science and Technology and many other European organizations which might cooperate in such a project, would it be possible to envisage an exhibition of a similar nature but on a Europe-wide scale travelling around Europe and other parts of the world? Does the Commission believe that the forthcoming Expos in Lisbon and Hanover might provide a context for considering, discussing and developing this initiative?