Food Law News - EU - 2001


Standing Committee on Foodstuffs, 2-3 April 2001

CHOCOLATE - Interpreation of new Labelling Requirements

Exchange of views on issues raised by the Netherlands (letter of 25.01.2001) concerning the implementation of Directive 2000/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 rd of June 2000 relating to cocoa and chocolate products intended for human consumption.(Doc.AGRI/4569/01)

The representative of Germany supported that the 'cocoa solids % minimum' declaration should be stated on the label referring to the whole weight of the product following the articles of the Council Directive 2000/13/EC . The representative of Italy supported that the cocoa % minimum should be calculated on the chocolate part only and this is the practice followed in Italy since 1973.

The representative of UK said that the cocoa % minimum is the declaration of a collective ingredient and not a generic ingredient of the product. He supported that the cocoa % minimum is an indication of the chocolate quality and there is no use to put the cocoa % minimum over the whole weight of the product. Several other delegations agreed with the opinion of the representatives of Italy and UK .

The Commission representatives reserved their position at this stage and will consider the issue taking into account the arguments presented by the Member States.


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