The Council adopted, by qualified majority, (with Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark voting against) a Directive amending Directive 95/2/EC on food additives other than colours and sweeteners and Directive 94/35/EC on sweeteners for use in foodstuffs. The Council accepted all the amendments suggested by the European Parliament.
To recall, Directive 95/2/EC on food additives other than colours and sweeteners sets out a list of authorised food additives, the foodstuffs in which they may be used and their conditions of use. It needs to be adapted in the light of recent technical and scientific developments.
Changes concern:
§ the revision of current authorisations (nitrite and nitrate; weaning foods; food supplements and foods for special medical purposes; p-Hydroxybenzoates; gelling agents in jelly mini-cups);
§ the authorisation of new food additives (e.g. erythritol; 4-Hexylresorcinol; Soybean hemicellulose; ethyl cellulose, pullulan; TBHQ);
§ the authorisation for extending the use of authorised food additives (sodium hydrogen carbonate in sour milk cheese; sorbates and benzoates in crustaceans; silicon dioxide as a carrier; additives in traditional products).
Directive 94/35/EC on sweeteners for use in foodstuffs sets out a list of authorised sweeteners, the foodstuffs in which they may be used and their conditions of use. It needs to be adapted in the light of recent technical and scientific developments. Changes concern the authorisation of a new food additive (erythritol).