The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution amending the Council’s common position for adopting a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a common authorisation procedure for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings. The recommendation for second reading (under the codecision procedure) had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Asa WESTLUND (PES, SE) on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.
The amendments were the result of a compromise between the Council and the Parliament. The main amendments - adopted under 2nd reading of the codecision procedure - were as follows:
- transparency in the production and handling of food is absolutely crucial to maintain consumer confidence ;
- the criteria laid down for authorisation under the sectoral food laws should also be fulfilled for authorisation to be granted pursuant to this Regulation.
- where appropriate and under certain circumstances the specific sectoral food law may provide for protection of scientific data and other information submitted by the applicant for a certain period of time. In this case the sectoral food law should lay down the conditions under which these data may not be used for the benefit of another applicant;
- Parliament stressed that the common procedure should contribute to the free movement of food within the Community and to a high level of protection of human health and to a high level of consumer protection, including protection of consumer interests;
- the Authority shall give its opinion within nine months (instead of six months) of receipt of a valid application;
- lastly, in the Regulation updating the Community list, the Commission must explain the considerations on which it is based.