Brussels, 20/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health voted on Wednesday in favour of a European Commission proposal aimed at suspending the sale on the Community market of jelly sweets containing konjac, a food additive (E425) also called glucomannan. Manufacturers and importers will therefore have to withdraw from their shops all jelly mini-cups (often containing pieces of apple, mango, lychee or a mixture of fruit) and other sweet products containing konjac. The Commission felt it was necessary for such measures to be taken Community-wide to guarantee the same high level of consumer protection in all EU Member States.
We would specify that this emergency measure is taken under the new competences granted to the Commission by the new regulation, which took effect in February, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and fixing procedures on the safety of foodstuffs. Article 53 of the regulation authorises the Commission to suspend the marketing of any foodstuff likely to present a serious risk for human health, since such risks cannot be controlled satisfactorily simply through measures taken at national level.