Additives stakeholders welcome amendments
the storage and use of flavourings were welcomed by industry last
week. Proposed by the Commission in 2002, amendments to Directive
95/2/EC on food additives other than colours and sweeteners were
wrapped up in one year.
"We're delighted - not only did the amendments go through after the first reading in Council - almost all the industry requests were met," Dionne Heijnen, secretary general of the European Food Additive Manufactures (ELC) told FoodNavigator.com.
Proposed by the Commission in November 2002, the amendments were quickly adopted by the European Parliament in July this year, 'agreeable' to both the Council and the Commission, they paved the way for a quick final adoption by the Council.
The new amendments aim to harmonise EU legislation on additives necessary for the storage and use of flavourings. The idea being to ensure "the functioning of the internal market, a high level of protection of human health and the protection of consumer interests".
"Unfortunately not all the industry requests were taken on board by the Commission, for example additional uses of existing additives," added Heijnen.
For the association, a further thorn in the side is Parliament's request to the Commission to produce an update on re-evaluation reports.
"Additives are always under review, there are already provisions under the current additives legislation," said Heijnen.
The secretary general went on to explain that stakeholders and policy makers had linked up on several occassions to discuss issues affecting the industry.
"We are in contact with the Commission to explain our needs."
But new requests may be some time in coming as the Commission is currently getting to grips with updating the additives legislation - the framework directive - in order to speed up the evaluation/decision making procedure.
"I don't know the timetable for this but it could mean that some time will pass before new requests are taken on board," concluded Heijnen.
Food additives - authorised at EU level for all the 15 member states as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norwary - are substances added intentionally to foodstuffs to perform certain technological functions, for example to colour, sweeten or preserve.
