The Council announced the approval of new agreement reached with the European Parliament on foods considered essential for certain vulnerable persons such as babies and young children. The new regulation seeks to clarify the legal framework relating to these foods by avoiding the overlap between the specific legislation applicable to such foods and the legislation applicable to normal food.

Ministers approved the agreement reached with the European Parliament on foods considered essential for certain vulnerable persons such as babies and young children. With the approval, the Council confirmed the deal reached between the Cyprus presidency and representatives of the European Parliament on 14 November and paved the way for the formal adoption of the new EU regulation by the European Parliament and the Council. In June 2012, a report adopted by the European Parliament had also called to strengthen the rules on the labelling of baby milks.

According to the Council, the new regulation will clarify the legal framework relating to these foods by avoiding the overlap between the specific legislation applicable to such foods and the legislation applicable to normal food. It further aims at closing legal loopholes under the existing system and ensuring that the EU rules on such foods are applied in the same manner in all member states. The Council highlighted that it contributes to providing legal clarity in the interests of both consumers and producers, and to preventing distortions in the internal market. The new rules cover infant formula and follow-on formula; processed cereal-based foods and baby foods for infants and young children; foods for special medical purposes; and total daily diet foods for weight control.

Foods for sportsmen, milk-based drinks and similar products marketed as "growing up milks" are excluded from the scope of the new rules. The European Commission must, however, report on the necessity of rules for these products after having consulted the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).