In early 2008 the European Commission published a proposal to combine general food and nutrition labelling rules into a single text.

For the 10% or so of consumers who apparently read the nutrition labelling, the calorific value and calorie content are the ideal solution.

It includes information about food allergen labelling, nutrition labelling, and nutritional and health claims for foods.

I am also pleased to note the broad support for mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling and the endorsement of voluntary schemes by Member States.

I welcome calls to the Commission to research and develop a scientifically based EU-wide 'front-of-pack nutrition labelling scheme'.

(An earlier suggested common name "microparticulated protein" is no longer required and there is no triggering of nutrition labelling.)

Food labelling (general standard, guidelines on nutrition labelling, guidelines on labelling claims)

The European Commission has issued a proposal for a new Food Information Regulation which includes provisions for nutrition labelling, although new law is not expected imminently.

In Hong Kong nutrition facts labels are regulated by the subsidiary legislation Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) (Amendment: Requirements for Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Claim) Regulation 2008.

Nutrition policy, including nutrition labelling, in England and Wales was transferred from the Food Standards Agency to the Department of Health in England and to the Assembly Government in Wales on 1 October 2010.

Having myself been, for many years, a member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, I am also pleased that the Commission, in a supplementary statement, has announced a revision of the nutrition labelling directive, which is long overdue.

These implement European Parliament and Council Directive 2000/13/EC (as amended) on the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs, and Council Directive 90/496/EEC (as amended) on nutrition labelling of foodstuffs.