Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

RemovedEXPLANATORY STATEMENT

RemovedCutting 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.

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

RemovedThis 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.

RemovedI 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.

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

RemovedBased 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.