Baby milk labelling rules face legal challenge
Tom Lloyd
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Baby milk makers have launched a legal challenge to changes to the way different types of their products are labelled.
Regulations that came into force last week introduced stricter controls on the labelling of infant formula and follow-on formula.
Infant formula can be used for babies aged less than six months, and older, whereas follow-on formula is only suitable for children aged six months and over.
The stricter controls have been introduced in response to EU legislation. But baby milk companies are arguing that the changes do not need to be introduced until the end of 2009.
Umbrella body the Infant and Dietetic Foods Association is calling for a judicial review to examine when the proposals need to be implemented.
Gill Fine, director of consumer choice and dietary health at the Food Standards Agency, said: "We are extremely surprised that companies we have been talking to about these regulations for almost three years should decide at the last minute to apply for a judicial review."
