Food Law News - EU - 2003


EP Briefing, 3 April 2003

ADDITIVES - Sweeteners used in food

Report on the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 94/35/EC on sweeteners for use in foodstuffs (COM(2002) 375 - C5-0341/2002 - 2002/0152(COD))

Briefing for a debate to be held 9 April 2003.

Anne FERREIRA (PES, F) for the Environment Committee will be tabling a draft legislative resolution on sweeteners used in food. The committee is proposing amendments to reduce the maximum doses of cyclamates in soft drinks from the level of 350 mg/l proposed by the Commission to 250 mg/l and to extend the new limit to milk-based drinks in addition to water-based drinks. The draft resolution calls for the use of two new sweeteners authorised in the proposal (sucralose and aspartame-acesulfame salt) to be reviewed within three years, with particular attention being focused on the effects on children's health. It also says that the use of two other artificial sweeteners, aspartame and Stevia, should be re-examined and calls for proposals to improve the labelling of products containing aspartame. Lastly, the committee says that the new directive should be implemented in the Member States within a year of its entry into force.


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