Food Law News - EU - 2001
FSA E-mail, 21 December 2001
LABELLING - Caffeine/Quinine: Standing Committee for Foodstuffs meeting - 17/18 December
The Standing Committee for Foodstuffs discussed a revised proposal on the labelling of foods containing caffeine and quinine at their meeting on 17/18 December. At the meeting, there was broad support for the proposed measure, except as follows:
- labelling for cinchona and guarana extracts needed to be clarified
- some wanted a warning on products containing quinine
- the position of concentrated and powdered drinks needed to be clarified
- many delegations queried the need for Article 2(2), which deals with foods other than beverages, because of the implications for chocolate
- there were doubts that warnings were appropriate in relation to caffeine; some would prefer a statement of high caffeine content backed up by public information
- some wanted the reference to food supplements deleted since it appeared to sanction sale of these products
The Commission appeared to accept that chocolate was not a significant source of exposure to caffeine and agreed to redraft the proposal and submit for vote at the next meeting (February?).
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