Dietetic foods: approximation of the laws of the Member States (amend. Directive 89/398/EEC)

The Committee adopted amendments to the common position of the Council on a directive covering a number of special directives relating to food intended for particular nutritional uses. The rapporteur is Mrs Ulla SANDBAEK (I-EDN, Dk). Thus the committee has rejected the Council's wish that a special directive be adopted governing foods intended to take account of intense muscular effort, especially by sportsmen. Members pointed out that it was difficult to define what constituted a "sportsman". Moreover, nutritional requirements might differ considerably from one sport to another, eg pole vaulting as opposed to swimming. Special foods for sportsmen were of no significant advantage and could cost up to three times as much as the equivalent ordinary food. Otherwise, the committee accepted the common position (co-decision, second reading) on a proposal for a directive amending framework directive 89/398/EEC on food for particular nutritional uses. In accordance with the wishes of the 1992 European Council in Edinburgh for the simplification of food legislation, the aim is to whittle down the number of specific food directives required over and above the framework directive. As a result, the common position provides for a limited number of specific directives: for infant formulae and follow-on formulae, baby foods, foods for weight reduction and dietary foods for special medical purposes. In addition, the adoption of a special directive on foods for diabetics - as requested by Parliament at first reading - will depend upon the conclusions of a Commission report that is being prepared. Furthermore, the Council has taken account of Parliament's request for a special directive on gluten-free foods by laying down special provisions on labelling for such foods. �