Foodstuffs, alcoholic beverages: labelling, presentation and advertising

The Committee endorses the proposal for a directive as a valuable contribution. The Committee does, however, propose that the specific labelling rules in respect of alcoholic beverages be adopted by the Standing Committee on Foodstuffs, rather than by the common market organization committees, as proposed by the Commission. The Committee highlights the fact that, following the BSE crisis, the European Parliament is advocating greater transparency in food legislation. The same demand was also made in the ESC opinion on the BSE crisis. The European Commission endorses this approach, an integral part of which is judged to be referral to independent committees. The Standing Committee on Foodstuffs is an independent body whose remit it is to assess rules governing foodstuffs. The abovementioned approach also takes account of the need to avoid any discrimination between alcoholic beverages. �