To help consumers to make healthier food choices, the European Commission wants producers of foods and drinks to display clear nutritional information on the front-of-pack. But this may not be so simple… Some Member States have already introduced their own labelling schemes to mark “healthy” products but will the EU win the battle at European scale?

EPRS policy podcast - Nutrition labelling schemes used in Member States

<p>The European Parliament 's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety is responsible for food safety issues, including the labelling and safety of foodstuffs, veterinary legislation safeguarding against risks to human health, and public health checks on foodstuffs and food production systems.</p>

<p>Parliament is also particularly vigilant with regard to threats to consumer health related to cloned animals and nanomaterials or GMOs. It scrutinises and regularly opposes draft proposals for authorisation or renewal of new genetically modified plants such as maize or soya beans. In order to ensure greater transparency throughout the food chain and to better inform European consumers, Parliament, in a resolution adopted in May 2016, reiterated its call on the Commission to present legislative proposals for the mandatory indication of the origin of, in particular, meat used as an ingredient in processed foods. This should restore consumer confidence in the wake of the horsemeat scandal and other food fraud cases. In 2017, Parliament and Council agreed upon new rules to tighten up official food inspections aimed at improving food traceability and combating fraud. During the negotiations, Parliament managed to strengthen enforcement in relation to fraudulent or deceptive practices.</p>

#EUelections2019 - Food safety

Voting session

Breakfast directive - Illustration

Breakfast directive - illustration

Press conference - The reform of the CAP and wine labelling

AGRI - ENVI - Public hearing : ' Labelling of Origin for Agricultural and Food Products '

Food package. Fish, Salmon. label, food labelling, Seafood

Food labelling

Manifestation des producteurs laitiers a Strasbourg a l'appel du Conseil Laitier Europeen

This infoclip illustrates plant-based food products sold in shops and being prepared in a restaurant. In October 2025, the European Parliament has voted to ban the use of some words to describe the variants of products which are not meat-based. MEPs decided to introduce a new definition of meat as “edible parts of animals” and specify that names such as steak, escalope, sausage or burger must be reserved exclusively for products containing meat and must exclude cell-cultured products.

Infoclip: Plant-based food

MEPs vote on the following topics: Laying down additional procedural rules relating to the enforcement of Regulation (EU) 2016/679; New Regulation on Construction Products; Amending Directive 2013/34/EU as regards the time limits for the adoption of sustainability reporting standards for certain sectors and for certain third-country undertakings; Methane emissions reduction in the energy sector; Mercury: dental amalgam and other mercury-added products subject to manufacturing, import and export restrictions; Strengthening the CO2 emission performance targets for new heavy-duty vehicles; Foodstuffs for human consumption: amending certain 'Breakfast' Directives; European environmental economic accounts: new modules; Union certification framework for carbon removals; Standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation; and other topics.

Voting Session

Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT) rapporteur and Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Chair of the Committee for Agriculture, speak to the press on Geographical Indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT) rapporteur and Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), Chair of the Committee for Agriculture on Geographical Indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products

This infoclip shows honey, fruit juice, jam. The revision aims to help consumers make informed and healthier decisions on agri-food products such as honey, fruit juice, jam, jellies and marmalades

Infoclip: 'Breakfast directives' - clearer labelling of honey, fruit juice, jam

This news item shows extracts from the signature of six COD LEX texts by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and José Manuel ALBARES BUENO, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the Council. The six COD LEX texts are about consumer credits, ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport , on the promotion of energy from renewable sources, on geographical indication protection for craft and industrial products, on establishing the European defence industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act and on the labelling of organic pet food.

LEX signing ceremony: signature of six COD LEX texts by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and José Manuel ALBARES BUENO, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the Council

Food origin, food cost, food safety, taste, nutritional content and ethics and beliefs are among the most important factors for Europeans when buying food. Food and nutrition habits of European citizens may vary from a Member State to the other. Discover more in this video. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Most important factors when buying food

Eric ANDRIEU (S&D, FR), rapporteur, speaks to the press about the reform of the CAP and wine labelling in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Press conference by Eric ANDRIEU (S&D, FR), rapporteur, on the reform of the CAP and wine labelling

During the EP plenary session (16- 19 April 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs discuss and vote on new rules on production, controls and labelling of organic food in the EU. The new rules aim at making it easier for small farmers to convert to organic productions and increase overall output in the EU, while ensuring that organic imports comply with highest EU standards. Statements by Martin HÄUSLING (Greens/EFA, DE) and Eric ANDRIEU (S&D, FR).

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