111) The Committee recalled that the 28th Session of CCFL agreed to undertake new work on a Proposed Draft Amendment to the General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (section 5.1) concerning Quantitative Ingredient Declaration (QUID) labelling. The 47th Session of the Executive Committee subsequently approved this proposal as new work (ALINORM 01/3, para. 43 and Appendix III).
112) The Observer from IACFO presented the revised text (CRD 33) to the Committee and expressed the view that QUID labelling is becoming increasingly important for consumers to avoid misleading labelling, and to allow consumers to make an informed choice related to the health related properties and quality of the product. The Observer therefore proposed that the labelling of all multi-ingredient food disclosing in the ingredient list the percentage, by weight, of each key ingredient (including ingredients of compound ingredients). The Observer from CI supported this proposal.
113) The Delegation of Thailand elaborated further on the labelling regulations mentioned by IACFO and informed the Committee that the mandatory regulations for QUID enforced in Thailand required the approximate percentage of the main ingredients to be declared without a ratio level. The main ingredients are those that are essential in the composition of the food.
114) Many delegations and observers expressed their concern on QUID labelling and noted that declaration thresholds needed careful consideration. The Delegation of Sweden, speaking on behalf of the EC, supported the principle of QUID labelling but questioned the justification for declaring systematically the quantity of each ingredient above a certain percentage. The Delegations of Mexico and Costa Rica expressed the view that the quantity of an ingredient should be declared only where the ingredient is emphasized in a graphic or written manner, including in the name of the food, or is considered as valuable. The Delegation of Mexico also questioned the provisions of the proposed amendment since the declaration of the percentage of all ingredients could infringe the intellectual property rights of the manufacturers. The Delegation of India indicated that product innovation would be lost if quantitative declaration of ingredients were to be applied.
115) Some delegations noted that QUID labelling should be considered as voluntary. The Delegation of Canada indicated that it did not support the need for universal QUID labelling in view of the considerable amount of information already provided in the General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods and related guidelines to assist consumers’ choice. This view was supported by the Delegations of United States and Chile. Some delegations supported retaining the current text of the Standard but agreed that further discussion of quantitative declaration would be needed.
116) The Committee, recognizing the diversity of opinions among Member countries, decided to circulate the alternative texts presented in CL 2000/35-FL and CRD 33. The delegation of United States was also invited to provide detailed proposals concerning voluntary labelling by adding section 7.3 to the General Standard.
Status of the Proposed Draft Amendment to the General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (Quantitative Declaration of Ingredients)
117) The Committee agreed to return the Proposed Draft Amendment, as proposed in CL 2000/35-FL and CRD 33, to Step 3 for circulation and consideration at the next session (see Appendix IX).
