Regulation 1998/1139 - Compulsory indication of the labelling of certain foodstuffs produced from genetically modified organisms of particulars other than those provided for in Directive 79/112/EEC - Main contents

official title

 

Legal instrument	Regulation
Number legal act	Regulation 1998/1139
Original proposal	COM(1998)99
CELEX number i	31998R1139

Avis juridique important

|

Council Regulation (EC) No 1139/98 of 26 May 1998 concerning the compulsory indication of the labelling of certain foodstuffs produced from genetically modified organisms of particulars other than those provided for in Directive 79/112/EEC

Official Journal L 159 , 03/06/1998 P. 0004 - 0007

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1139/98 of 26 May 1998 concerning the compulsory indication of the labelling of certain foodstuffs produced from genetically modified organisms of particulars other than those provided for in Directive 79/112/EEC

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 79/112/EEC of 18 December 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs (1), and in particular Article 4(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

• (1) 

  Whereas, in accordance with the provisions of Part C of Council Directive 90/220/EEC of 23 April 1990 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms (2), consents have been given for the placing on the market of certain genetically modified products by Commission Decision 96/281/EC of 3 April 1996 concerning the placing on the market of genetically modified soya beans (Glycine max L.) with increased tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate, pursuant to Council Directive 90/220/EEC (3), and by Commission Decision 97/98/EC of 23 January 1997 concerning the placing on the market of genetically modified maize (Zea mays L.) with the combined modification for insecticidal properties conferred by the Bt-endotoxin gene and increased tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate ammonium pursuant to Council Directive 90/220/EEC (4);

• (2) 

  Whereas in accordance with Directive 90/220/EEC there were no safety grounds for mentioning on the label of genetically modified soya beans (Glycine max L.) or of genetically modified maize (Zea mays L.) that they were obtained by genetic modification techniques;

• (3) 

  Whereas Directive 90/220/EEC does not cover non-viable products derived from genetically modified organisms (hereinafter referred to as 'GMOs`);

• (4) 

  Whereas certain Member States have taken measures in respect of the labelling of foods and food ingredients produced from the products concerned; whereas differences between those measures are liable to impede the free movement of those foods and food ingredients and thereby adversely affect the functioning of the internal market; whereas it is therefore necessary to adopt uniform Community labelling rules for the products concerned;

• (5) 

  Whereas Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients (5), lays down, in Article 8, additional specific labelling requirements in order to ensure proper information for the final consumer; whereas those additional specific labelling requirements do not apply to foods or food ingredients which were used for human consumption to a significant degree within the Community before the entry into force of Regulation (EC) 258/97 and are for that reason considered not to be novel;

• (6) 

  Whereas, in order to prevent distortions of competition, labelling rules for the information of the final consumer based on the same principles should apply to foods and food ingredients consisting of or derived from GMOs which were placed on the market before the entry into force of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 pursuant to a consent given under Directive 90/220/EEC, and to foods and food ingredients which are placed on the market thereafter;

• (7) 

  Whereas, therefore, Commission Regulation (EC) No 1813/97 of 19 September 1997 concerning the compulsory indication on the labelling of certain foodstuffs produced...

This text has been adopted from EUR-Lex.

This page is also available in a full version containing de geconsolideerde versie, the legal context, de Europese rechtsgrond, other dossiers related to the dossier at hand and finally the related cases of the European Court of Justice.