Brussels, 25/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - Adopting the report by the French Socialist Anne Ferreira (30 votes for, 13 against and one abstention), the 'environment, public health, consumer policy' committee in the Parliament approved, with conditions, the European Commission proposal aiming to modify, for the second time, Directive 94/35/EC setting out the conditions for the use of sweeteners used in foods (see EUROPE of 18 July, p.17).
Thus, the green light was given by the parliamentarians for the use of curalose and aspartame-acesulfam salt - two new and intense sweeteners that the European Commission intends authorising -, but subordinate to the assurance that the use of these substances will be re-examined in three years. A requirement that the report also formulates for aspartame and stevia (a sweet aromatic plant).
As for setting the new limit values for the maximum level of cyclamates (artificial sweeteners) authorised in sweet alcohol free drinks, the report recommends that the Commission be stricter by lowering this level to 250 mg/l (against 400 mg/l at present, level that the Commission is suggesting lowering to 350 mg/l) and by extending this limit value to milk-based drinks.
Invited by the MEPs to explain why cyclamates have not been banned in the EU, as is the case in the United States, the Commission representative underlined that the Commission proposal is based on a recommendation from the EU scientific committee on human foodstuffs.
Contrary to certain MEPs who spoke of the carcinogenic properties of cyclamates and their responsibility in the depressed levels of testosterone seen in rats, the Commission does not feel that a ban is justified.