European Commission

Date: 22/02/1996

TWO directives designed to ensure that ingredients in baby food and infant formula are safe and properly labelled were adopted by the Commission this week. The first introduces new labelling requirements on infant formula, defining, for example, when a manufacturer can state that its product will not endanger a baby who is allergic to milk proteins. The second brings in EU regulations on cereal-based and other foods for babies and young children.

THE Commission has welcomed an agreement between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers on its five-year action programmes on cancer, AIDS and certain other communicable diseases. The agreement provides 64 million ecu for cancer programmes, 49.6 million ecu for the fight against AIDS and 35 million ecu for health promotion. Social Affairs Commissioner Pádraig Flynn said it marked “an important step forward in the development of public health policy in the EU”.

THE price gap between cars sold in different EU member states is narrowing, but some manufacturers continue to maintain high price differentials, according to a new Commission survey. Price differences of over 20&percent; were found in more than half the models examined, but much of the difference was attributed to currency fluctuations. Italy remains the member state with the lowest prices, while Austria, Germany and France are among the most expensive.