The Commission had adopted European Parliament and Council Directive 95/2/EC of 20 February 1995 on food additives other than colours and sweeteners and it is necessary to establish purity criteria for all additives mentioned in it.
Specific criteria of purity for emulsifiers, stabilisers, thickeners and gelling agents which may be used in foodstuffs intended for human consumption were contained in Council Directive 78/663/EEC (as amended). Commission Directive 96/77/EC of 2 December 1996 laying down specific purity criteria on food additives other than colours and sweeteners set out a first list of purity criteria for a number of food additives. This new Directive replaces the present criteria contained in 96/77 and incorporates those additives previously listed in 78/663.