• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

Nutrition labels

A label on food products indicating whether the product is healthy or less healthy. Sweden and Great Britain have introduced traffic-light labelling where red means eat as little as possible and green as much as possible. There is a majority in the Danish Folketing (Parliament) for a similar scheme.

The Government has rejected the proposal because it would prefer common EU rules. In a letter to a Danish member of the European Parliament, (21.02.2007), health commissioner Markos Kyprianou has indicated that he accepts national schemes as long as they are not in contravention of the common rules on food and health claims.

A regulation on this subject became applicable on 19 January 2007. It sets out general principles for all claims (positive descriptions) and particular stipulations as regards food and health claims.

Claims must be must be scientifically based and they are subject to supervision from the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.

Article 21 stipulates that, 'Member States may not restrict or forbid trade in or advertising of foods which comply with this Regulation'

This means that Denmark can no longer forbid marketing of or claims in relation to enriched foods. For example, we now have to allow "healthy" sweetened soft drinks with added vitamins.

So far it has been illegal to sell special Austrian so-called energy drinks in Denmark. They have been enriched with caffeine to keep people awake. It has not been legal either to sell sweetened soft drinks enriched with vitamins or juice enriched with minerals.

The Danish health authorities have considered these claims deceptive. The EU Court of Justice declared the Danish rules illegal. The Danish JuniBevægelsen tried to have the Danish rules respected through the European Parliament but the proposal was voted down, and the new common rules are total harmonisation rules where it is not possible for the Member States to request improved consumer protection.

A large number of typical nutrition claims are now covered by rules set out in an annex to the regulation. These rules are described under Nutrition claims.