EU Parliament backs Childers initiative on labelling of vegetable oils in food
Issued : Monday 21 June, 2010
Labour MEP highlights devastation of important habitats caused by palm oil harvesting
Irish Labour MEP Nessa Childers has today welcomed the European Parliament's decision to support her initiative to introduce mandatory labelling for specific vegetable oils used in food products across Europe.
This new law will mean that major European food manufacturers will now be obliged to move away from the practice of using the generic 'vegetable oil' label on foodstuffs to a system where consumers will be clearly informed as to the exact type of oil a specific product contains - i.e. palm, sunflower or soybean oil, for example.
She said: "The massive harvesting of palm trees for palm oil is having a huge impact on climate change, deforestation. The practice is also endangering important animal habitats.
"One serious affect is the alarming rate of destruction of the Orangutan's habitat in places such as Malaysia and Indonesia. The UN has warned that Orangutans could be extinct within 10 years if we don't act now. Conversion of tropical forests to make way for palm trees also leads to a more than 80% reduction in biodiversity. Areas of forest are often deliberately and illegally burned. This loss of forest also results in significant carbon emissions.
"There is low public awareness of the enormous environmental damage caused by the way in which certain vegetable oils such as palm oil are sourced for global markets.
"Until now, no mandatory requirement existed for manufacturers to label the specific vegetable oils in their products, such as palm, sunflower or soybean oil.
"I campaigned for this legislation because I strongly believe that consumers are entitled to complete information on the make-up of the food products they choose to consume. Equally, Irish and European consumers should be reasonably entitled to make a judgment as to what type of vegetable oil they consume based on a number of criteria, including the impact on the environment and habitats from which the oil has been sourced.
"As it stands, palm oil in particular, which is generally labelled using the generic term 'vegetable oil' can be described as a hidden ingredient in up to 40% of food products on Irish supermarket shelves.
"Europeans are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of their consumer choices on the environment, both in Europe and elsewhere. Providing clear information to consumers to enable them to make informed choices is a key role of the EU.
"I worked closely with my Labour colleagues and the The European Association of Zoos on this initiative, which represents over 300 zoos and aquaria in 36 countries.
"They will launch a conservation campaign this September, highlighting the role of unsustainable palm oil production in driving the Orangutan and many other Southeast Asian species to extinction.
"The direct link to European consumer behaviour will also be highlighted as part of this campaign. The success of this amendment will contribute greatly to allowing consumers to adjust their behaviour so as to improve the situation for these threatened species.
"This public awareness campaign is crucial to preventing a repeat of the type of environmental damage the harvesting of palm oil has done."
