STUDY 
              Requested by the PETI committee 
                                                              
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                                        Food Labelling for 
                                                    Consumers  
                                                                         
                                         EU Law, Regulation and 
                                                     Policy Options 
                                                                         
                                                              PETITIONS  
                  
                  
                     
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  
                                                                                       
                              
                                Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs 
                                             Directorate General for Internal Policies of the Union                             
                                                             PE 608.871 - April 2019 
          
          
          
          
          
          
                             
                                                                     
                               
                               
                               
        
        
        
        
        
        
         Food Labelling for Consumers  
         EU Law, Regulation and Policy Options 
                               
                               
                               
                               
                           STUDY 
                               
                               
                               
                               
           Abstract 
           This study, commissioned by the PETI Committee of the European Parliament, provides a 
           brief overview of the relevant EU labelling legislation Member States have to comply with, 
           with regard to labelling of food, including organic products, for consumers, with emphasis 
           on the requirements of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. It critically assesses these laws and 
           discusses progress - or lack thereof -, in particular with regard to aspects such as safety, 
           health effects, effects for disabled people, etc. It explores and elaborates on the question 
           of whether the current labelling requirements actually result in clearer information to help 
           citizens to better understand the composition and health effects of food. The study also 
           provides brief analyses/assessments of several petitions provided by the PETI Committee. 
           Where possible, this study makes (policy) recommendations for EU institutions and/or 
           Member States, taking into account their respective remits. 
        
        
        
       ABOUT THE PUBLICATION 
       This research paper was requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions and was 
       commissioned,  overseen and published by the Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and 
       Constitutional Affairs. 
        
       Policy Departments provide independent expertise, both in-house and externally, to support European 
       Parliament committees and other parliamentary bodies in shaping legislation and exercising 
       democratic scrutiny over EU external and internal policies.  
        
       To contact the Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs or to subscribe to its 
       newsletter please write to: poldep-citizens@europarl.europa.eu 
        
       RESPONSIBLE RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR 
       Jos Heezen 
       Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs 
       European Parliament 
       B-1047 Brussels 
       E-mail: poldep-citizens@europarl.europa.eu 
        
       AUTHOR(S) 
       Dr. Kai P. Purnhagen, Wageningen University and Erasmus University of Rotterdam (lead author) 
       Dr. Hanna Schebesta, Wageningen University 
        
       LINGUISTIC VERSION(S) 
       Original: EN 
        
       Manuscript completed in March 2019 
       © European Union, 2019 
        
       This document is available on the internet at: 
       http://www.europarl.europa.eu/supporting-analyses 
        
       DISCLAIMER 
       The opinions expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the author and do not 
       necessarily represent the official position of the European Parliament. 
       Reproduction and translation for non-commercial purposes are authorised, provided the source is 
       acknowledged and the publisher is given prior notice and sent a copy.