Nutrient profiles scheme sees further delays

The European Commission’s proposal for a nutrient profiling scheme looks set to be delayed until after the new parliamentary elections, international food and nutrition policy consultancy EAS has said.

EAS Adviser Miguel da Silva says that contrary to previous indications, the Commission will now not present the proposal for a vote at the March 27 Standing Committee on General Food Law meeting.

The scheme is part of the EU’s Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation, and aims to determine which food products will be able to bear nutrition and/or health claims.

According to the Regulation, a nutrient profiling system was required to be adopted by 19 January this year, but due to a lack of consensus on various issues, the system has not yet been adopted.

As a result, Da Silva said the final adoption of the profiling system will now not be possible before the June European Parliament elections.

The final system must be approved by the Parliament under a regulatory procedure with scrutiny, which will be possible from September 2009 when the new legislature starts is activities.