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Ministero della Salute v. Coordinamento delle associazioni per la difesa dell’ambiente e dei diritti degli utenti e dei consumatori (Codacons), Federconsumatori, intervening parties: Lega delle Cooperative, Associazione Italiana Industrie Prodotti Alimentari (AIIPA), Adusbef,

Country/Territory
European Union, Italy
Type of court
International court
Date
May 26, 2005
Source
UNEP, InforMEA
Court name
European Court of Justice
Seat of court
Luxembourg
Judge
Timmermans, C.W.A
Gulmann, C.
Schintgen, R.
Léger, P.
Reference number
C-132/03
Language
Italian
Subject
Waste & hazardous substances, Land & soil, Environment gen.
Keyword
Hazardous substances Ecolabelling Fertilizers/nutrients Public health Ecological production/organic production Genetic resources GMO
Abstract
EC legislation states that the accidental presence of GMOs does not have to be indicated on food labels if it remains below a threshold of 1% of the final product. Codacons, in opposition to the Italian health ministry, claims that this exception should not apply to baby food, citing the precautionary principle. The ECJ sees things differently, and focusses on the authorisation for GM food: “The precautionary principle, where relevant, is part of such a decision-making [authorisation] process”. It adds that nothing else in European Community GM and baby food legislation allows a special GM labelling regime for baby food. The judgement is the latest development in a series of disputes over the correct interpretation of a Council Regulation (EC) No 1139/98 of 26 May 1998 concerning the compulsory indication on the labelling of certain foodstuffs produced from genetically modified organisms of particulars other than those provided for in Directive 79/112/EEC, as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 49/2000 of 10 January 2000.
Full text
Ministero della Salute v. Coordinamento 20050526.pdf
Website
curia.europa.eu