Activites

• 1998/11/04 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Directive 1998/72
  • OJ L 295 04.11.1998, p. 0018
• 1998/10/15 Final act signed
• 1998/10/15 End of procedure in Parliament
• #2118
• 1998/09/28 Council Meeting
• 1998/07/15 Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading
  • T4-0425/1998 summary

    Parliament rejected all the amendments by Mrs Hiltrud BREYER (Greens, D) on food additives other than colours and sweetners and thus adopted the Council's common position as it stood. �

• 1998/07/14 Debate in Parliament
• 1998/06/23 Vote in committee, 2nd reading
  • A4-0242/1998
• 1998/04/29 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 2nd reading
• #2076
• 1998/03/23 Council Meeting
  • 12896/1/1997 summary

    The common position of the Council takes account of the amendments in the Commission?s amended proposal concerning provisions relating to distilled alcoholic beverages with whole pears, E 468 (sodium carboxymethylcellulose) in solid dietary supplements, E 442 (ammonium phosphatides) in sugar confectionery and food additives in infant formulae and follow-on formulae, weaning foods and preparations for young children for special medical purposes. However, the Council departed from the amended proposal by accepting, wholly or in part, the 6 amendments rejected by the Commission. It also introduced amendments to the proposal concerning both the form and content of the text. 1) Flour treatment agents: the Council included flour treatment agents in the field of application of Directive 95/2/EC, but excluded enzymes used for the same purpose. It also included E 930 (L-cysteine) used solely as a flour treatment agent; 2) Limitation on the use of food additives in certain foodstuffs: the Council amended the list of food additives which can be used in a new category of non-emulsified oils and fats of animal or vegetable origin prepared specially for cooking, frying or sauces. It also amended the list of additives allowed in sterilised cream; 3) Ban on the use of food additives in certain foodstuffs: the Council included the amendments by the European Parliament abolishing E 507 (hydrochloric acid) in mozzarella and E 905 (mycrocrystalline wax) as a glazing agent for rice. It deleted the entry ?water-based flavoured drinks? under the use of E 473 (sucrose esters of fatty acids) and E 474 (sucroglycerides). Finally, it deleted E 233 (thiabendazole) for treating the surface of fruit and vegetables; 4) Extension to the use of food additives already authorised: the Council authorised the use of certain food additives already authorised in new categories of foods: E 440 (pectin) in pineapple and passion fruit juices and nectars; E 200-203 (sorbates) in olives and olive-based preparations; E 220-228 (sulphites) in vacuum-packed sweetcorn; E 445 (glycerol esters of wood rosin) for treating the surface of fruit and vegetables; waxes (E 901-904) for treating the surface of peaches and pineapples; E 551-559 (silicates) in anti-caking agents and E 234 (nisin) in mascarpone. In addition, additives E 338-452 (phosphates) may be used in the following foods: jams, fruit sauces, tinned shellfish, water-based emulsions as humectants in confectionery and coffee-based drinks for automatic vending machines. It should be noted that the Council agrees with the European Parliament: - not to amend the level of E 220-228 (sulphites) in dehydrated apples and pears; - to reduce the level of E 220-228 (sulphites) in sugars to 10 mg/kg; - to authorise the use of E 957 (thaumatine) as a flavour enhancer in water-based, non-alcoholic flavoured drinks and milk-based and milk-free desserts.�

• 1998/01/14 Modified legislative proposal published
  • COM(1997)0656 summary

    The Commission decided to amend its proposal and accepted amendments concerning: - permission of sulphites in distilled alcoholic beverages with whole pears; - permission to use E 468 crosslinked sodium carboxymethylcellulose in solid dietary supplements; - extension of use of E 442 ammonium phosphatides to sugar confectionary; - extension of use of E 414 acacia gum in formulae and weaning foods for infants and young children in good health; - addition of E 472 citric acid esters of mono and diglycerides of fatty acids and E 473 sucrose esters of fatty acids; - permission of use of E 304 L-ascorbyl palmitate, E 331 sodium citrate, E 332 potassium citrate, E 339 sodium phosphate, E 340 potassium phosphate, E 472 c citric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, E 473 sucrose esters of fatty acids in infant formulae and follow-on formulae for infants in good health; - extension of use of E 333 calcium citrate and E 341 tricalcium phosphate in weaning foods for infants and young children in good health; - permission of use of E 401 sodium alginate, E 405 propane 1.2 diolalginate, E 410 locust bean gum, E 412 guar gum, E 415 Xanthan gum, E 440 pectin, E 466 sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and E 471 mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids in foods for special medical purposes. The Commission did not accept amendments concerning: - requirements on labelling provisions; - prohibition of E 1103 invertase; - change of the maximum levels of sulphites allowed in sugars as defined in Directive 73/437/EEC, except glucose syrup, whether or not dehydrated; - not permitting the use of sulphites in marinated nuts and in maximum levels of 1500 mg/kg in dehydrated apples and pears with a moisture content of more than 12% not sold to the end consumer; - not permitting the use of additives in Annex VI (parts 1, 2 and 3) in foods for infants and young children for special medical purposes. �

• #2051
• 1997/11/27 Council Meeting
• 1997/10/23 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T4-0508/1997 summary

    In adopting the report by Mrs Hiltrud BREYER (Green Group, D) Parliament fundamentally amended the proposal for a directive, rejecting a whole list of proposed food additives. Parliament was opposed to the use of new additives in pasteurised cream and sterilized milk or to the authorization to new additives seeking to prolong the period of conservation of certain fruit and vegetables, enhance the taste of margarine, sweeten chewing gum or give rice a shinier appearance. It also opposed the use of an additive which might increase the sugar content of soft drinks for children. Finally, it rejected proposals concerning the use of sulphur-based products in dried apples and pears and hydrochloric acid in mozzarella. However, Parliament did not adopt the recommendation by the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection that processed eucheuma seaweed (E 407a), a jellifying additive exported by the Philippines be reclassified as E 408, so as to avoid confusion with carrageenan, which is regarded as purer. �

• 1997/10/22 Debate in Parliament
• 1997/09/24 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A4-0281/1997
• 1996/09/16 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 1996/09/04 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(1996)0303 summary

    OBJECTIVE : amending Directive 95/2/EC on food additives other than colourants and sweeteners, with a view to adapting it to recent scientific and technical developments. SUBSTANCE: the proposed amendment to Directive 95/2/EC merely allows already authorized food additives to be used in certain new categories of food which are not included in the Directive. These products have been on the market for several years and the entry into force of the Directive would prohibit their marketing. Furthermore, the proposal for amendment takes into account certain foodstuffs manufactured in the new Member States which are not covered by the Directive and in which certain additives are used. Some new food additives, which are currently prohibit and which were recently evaluated by the Scientific Committee for Food and found acceptable for human consumption, are included in the proposal. No further changes can be made to the conditions of use laid down in the Directive until the results of the consumer surveys required by the basic Directive are available. �

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(1996)0303
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A4-0281/1997
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0508/1997
• Modified legislative proposal published: COM(1997)0656
• Council position published: 12896/1/1997
• Committee recommendation tabled for plenary, 2nd reading: A4-0242/1998
• Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading: T4-0425/1998
• : Directive 1998/72
• : OJ L 295 04.11.1998, p. 0018

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)