On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 1999/2/EC, 2000/14/EC, 2011/24/EU and 2014/53/EU as regards certain reporting requirements in the fields of food and food ingredients, outdoor noise, patients’ rights, and radio equipment

on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 1999/2/EC, 2000/14/EC, 2011/24/EU and 2014/53/EU as regards certain reporting requirements in the fields of food and food ingredients, outdoor noise, patients’ rights, and radio equipment

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 1999/2/EC, 2000/14/EC, 2011/24/EU and 2014/53/EU as regards certain reporting requirements in the fields of food and food ingredients, outdoor noise, patients’ rights, and radio equipment

(COM(2023)0639 – C90381/2023 – 2023/0369(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2023)0639),

– having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C90381/2023),

– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of ...,

_ having regard to Rule 59 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (A90000/2023),

1. Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

3. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Amendment 1

Proposal for a directive

Recital 1

Or. en

Amendment 2

Proposal for a directive

Recital 2

Or. en

Amendment 3

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph -1 (new)

Directive 1999/2/EC

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)

Or. en

Amendment 4

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1

Directive 1999/2/EC

Article 7 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 a (new)

Or. en

Amendment 5

Proposal for a directive

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2

Directive 1999/2/EC

Article 7 – paragraph 4

Or. en

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Cutting unnecessary red tape should be a key objective for us in the European Parliament. Despite my belief that less administration is somewhat paradoxical in the EU bureaucratic system, the question arises as to why these amendments to the Directive primarily reduce controls on food. Indeed, the deletion of certain provisions of Directive 1999/2/EC has no equivalent replacement in Regulation (EU) 2017/625. Therefore, I believe that it may favour the uncontrolled import of irradiated food and weaken the control of irradiated food within the EU. I am strongly against deregulation of the industry, lowering of standards and unclear labelling.

Reading the proposal for a directive, I am disappointed that the Commission proposal lowers standards rather than raising them to the level of European excellence.

This is an extremely important issue, not only in terms of consumer choice, but also because of potential health risks. The studies on the safety of irradiated foods for human and animal health referred to in this text are over thirty years old, dating from the 1980s and 1990s. The data should be up to date using new technology and science.

I am concerned about food quality, and rightly so. If we implement the “Farm to Fork” strategy in line with the Green Deal, consumers would certainly be interested in knowing where irradiation facilities and irradiated food are in this chain. Croatia is one of the few European countries that irradiates food independently, but does not control such food on the market. Citizens have the right to be protected from corporate greed.

I am in favour of transparency. Consumer information must be published in one place and in all languages.

Based on all of the above, I believe that we should not only not reduce reporting and food control requirements, but that we must increase them in order to adequately protect consumers. Ultimately, consumers need to know whether the products they consume contain irradiated food or whether irradiated products are used in the animal food chain. As the Directives are being amended, some additional changes will need to be made and these changes should be for the better.

ANNEX: LIST OF ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.