§ Mr. ChurchillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made by the European Community to require compulsory nutrient-labelling of wines and other alcoholic beverages, with full disclosures of all chemical additives, colourings and preservatives, as well as of any pesticide used on the fruit.
§ Mr. MacleanGeneral compulsory nutrition labelling is not an option at the moment as there is no support from other member states. We therefore believed it right to put our full weight behind the Nutrition Labelling Rules Directive (90/496/EEC) which, with the exception of drinks subject to the labelling requirements of the wine regime, is fully applicable to alcoholic drinks. The Directive provides for the voluntary declaration of nutrients within mandatory formats. Declarations will be compulsory only if a nutrition claim is made. United Kingdom has achieved provision for a review of arrangements five years after implementation and will look at the need for general compulsory labelling in the light of experience gained.
Proposals to amend the EC Food Labelling Directive (79/112/EEC) to require ingredient listing for alcoholic beverages have not yet been received from the European Commission. These are expected late summer 1991.