The head of Europe’s leading consumer watchdog has said mandatory EU labelling information has become so complex and detailed even she cannot understand it.

Speaking at the CIAA Congress in Brussels yesterday (18 November), Monique Goyens, director-general of the European Consumers Organisation (BEUC), said: “Being able to read what’s on a packet is becoming more difficult as more and more information is included and the letters get smaller.” 

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Goyens admitted she did not understand mandatory pictographs on packages and she was supposed to be an expert. “In other words, the information has got to be processable by the consumer. The information has got to be useful, understandable and legible,” she said. 

EU health Commissioner John Dalli, who was also speaking at the event, accepted there was a problem regarding information overload. “There is a dilemma: whether to give just simplified information on a package or long and more precise data not understandable to the public.” 

Dalli claimed the European Commission continued to be pressed by the European Parliament for new packaging information. “We have to be careful,” he said.

See Also:

The CIAA Congress also heard from Unilever CEO Paul Polman, who noted that manufacturers could play a key role in ensuring ingredients were healthy, regardless of labelling issues. 

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Polman focused on his Unilever’s ambitious ‘Sustainable Living Plan’, unveiled earlier this week, which he said would improve the nutrition levels in the company’s products throughout the new decade. 

Polman said the company had embarked on a “nutrition mission” for the two billion consumers eating a Unilever product every day, with excess salt, sugar and fat content under consideration.