Alcoholic beverage labels: current practices and opportunities for further action

Transcription

1 Alcoholic beverage labels: current practices and opportunities for further action European Alcohol and Health Forum Brussels 8 April 2011 Michael Hübel European Commission Health & Consumers DG

2 consumer labelling of alcoholic beverages Current situation Regulation at EU level Regulations on labelling foodstuffs 1) - inform and protect consumers Regulations specific to alcoholic beverages 2) - inform consumers, protect interests of manufacturers Voluntary labelling initiatives /13/EC 2. 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

3 COMMISSION PROPOSAL FOR A REGULATION ON THE PROVISION OF FOOD INFORMATION TO CONSUMERS (COM(2008) 40 FINAL) Some of the targeted Issues Simplification General principles Legibility of label Non-prepacked food Origin labelling Alcoholic beverages Nutrition information

4 Legibility Commission proposal Minimum 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 <10cm 2

5 First Reading Opinions - legibility EP (June 2010) Deletes requirements for a minimum font size COUNCIL (February 2011) 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

6 Coverage of Alcoholic beverages Commission proposal Alcoholic drinks, including ready to drink mixtures, to include full ingredient list and nutrition information Derogations 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

7 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)

8 Next steps Codecision procedure - Adoption by European Parliament and the Council Transition 3 years after the entry into force Commission report on alcohol labelling after 5 years

9 EU Alcohol and Health Forum- Voluntary warnings some examples Pregnancy-related risks Pernod-Ricard 2006 Implementation by 2008 Pregnancy, drink driving and sales to underage SABMiller, 2008 revised policy on commercial communication

10 National warning and information initiatives France 2007 pregnancy-related risks Germany 2004 age limit for alcopops UK Government/industry voluntary agreement 2007 Units Lower-risk guidelines Pregnancy-related risks

11 Opportunities for further voluntary action? Alcohol units: units / grams / centilitres? UK unit = 8g Danish genstand = 12g Austrian Standardglas = 20g Depending on outcome of food information discussion: Energy content: kcal or kj in standard amount Specific ingredients in alcoholic energy drinks or mixers

12 Opportunities for further voluntary action? More information on pregnancy-related risks Across the EU Across all products Better visibility More information content Alerting to risk Risks of accidents and injuries Drink-driving Work, sports etc. rotating warnings Risks of mixing with certain medications To increase reach and impact: similar warnings in Retail shops, pubs, bars and other alcohol outlets

13 This paper was produced for a meeting organized by Health & Consumers DG and represents the views of its author on the subject. These views have not been adopted or in any way approved by the Commission and should not be relied upon as a statement of the Commission's or Health & Consumers DG's views. The European Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper, nor does it accept responsibility for any use made thereof.