ADDITIVES - Draft Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001

Directive 2000/51/EC amended Commission Directive 95/31/EC by laying down new purity criteria for mannitol (E421) and maltitol syrup (E965 (ii)). However, following its publication it came to light that the directive contained an error in relation to the criteria for mannitol. The Commission and all Member States have agreed the need to correct the wording and this will be undertaken by means of a further amendment to Directive 95/31. For this reason the draft SI implements only those changes which relate to maltitol syrup. Changes relating to mannitol will now be the subject of separate amending Regulations, once a revised text is adopted by the Commission.

The deadline for implementation is 30 June 2001 and the FSA are aiming to bring these Regulations into force at the earliest possible date following the end of the consultation period. Given that the changes have been the subject of previous correspondence with interested parties in the UK the FSA have reduced the length of consultation period to six weeks.

In considering the draft the following are noted:

• Following devolution, the amending Regulations will relate to England only and parallel Regulations will be made for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which will be subject to separate consultations.
• The wording of the draft differs from previous regulations on sweeteners. This reflects the fact that, in line with the transfer to him by the Food Standards Act of powers in relation to food previously vested in the Minister of Agriculture, the signatory will be the Secretary of State for Health. A footnote on page 1 of the draft SI details alterations to relevant food safety powers arising from devolution.