– Before the vote:

  Keith Taylor (Verts/ALE). – Madam President, this vote comes down to whether we want to continue fuelling a growing obesity epidemic or whether we want to protect the health of our children and future generations. The Commission has proposed continuing to allow 30% of energy in baby foods to come from sugar. This, I believe, is unacceptable and way above what the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends. They recommend limiting intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake and to less than 5% for additional health benefits. So my resolution calls upon the Commission to go back to the drawing board with this proposal and to bring it in line with the WHO recommendations.

So to give all European children a better, healthier future, I urge you all to vote in favour.

  Miguel Arias Cañete, Commission. – Madam President, the adoption of the delegated regulation without further delay would put an end to the uncertainty created by the deferral of the date of adoption which the legislator had already set for 20 July 2015. The delegated regulation would set clear rules for operators and enforcement authorities and would enable the manufacturers to anticipate its enforcement, in particular for the labelling requirements. The Commission confirms the commitment already given by its services to consult the European Food Safety Authority in early 2016 on the totality of the compositional requirements for processed cereal-based food and baby food, including with respect to the sugar levels and taking into account the latest scientific evidence. On the basis of EFSA’s advice, the Commission will be able to revise as appropriate the compositional requirements for these foods.