Strasbourg, 09/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - In Strasbourg last week the European Parliament called for a tighter overhaul of food additives legislation than the European Commission is proposing, to ensure food safety, health protection and sufficient consumer information about the use of food additives. Most additives are derived from natural raw materials and are used for example to preserve food, prevent oxidation, improve the look of food and emulsify it. Based on the report by Spanish MEP Maria del Pilar Ayuso Gonzalez (EPP-ED), the plenary gave the go-ahead in first reading to the proposed changes to Directive 95/2/EC concerning food additives apart from colourings and sweeteners, but placed two criteria: 1) the legislation must also apply to aromas used to add favour in order to ensure that additives cannot enter food products by the back door by being used as aromas; and 2) that the maximum authorised levels of additives listed in the Directive's technical annex be reduced, with a greater number of food categories being added.
The amendments voted in by the plenary on these two conditions are subject to an informal agreement between the Commission and the Council. Amendments calling for the reassessment by July 2004 of certain common additives (like nitrates nitrites) were rejected.
The Directive as amended by Parliament should therefore be accepted by the Council, meaning that a second reading will not be necessary.