EU food policy, 26 October 2012

Sommer criticises nutrient profiles impact assessment

The German centre-right MEP, Renate Sommer, has criticised the European Commission for refusing to have an independent external impact assessment on any proposals for nutrient profiles.

At a meeting of the European Bakers' Association, she accused the Commission of "running a dictatorship of bureaucrats", according to the industry's spokesmen Ludger Fischer.

Mr Fischer, having announced in August he was leaving the small business trade organisation UEAPME, has stayed on to continue lobbying hard against the profiles.

He said Mrs Sommer, who was rapporteur on the Food Information for Consumers legislation, thought an independent, external assessment was warranted.

However, so far there is no sign of any profiles emerging from the Commission. DG SANCO has said it needs to consult again and to determine whether other Commission services support them.

It is also now awaiting the appointment of a new Commissioner following John Dalli's departure.