G/SPS/N/EU/68  
 
4 March 2014  
(14-1303)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
1. Notifying Member: EUROPEAN UNION 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible: European Commission, Health and Consumers Directorate-
General 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Caramel colours (INS 150a-d) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document: Commission Regulation amending Annex II to 
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards 
the use of caramel colours (E 150a-d) in beer and malt beverages  Language(s): 
English  Number of pages: 4+2 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2014/sps/EEC/14_1107_00_e.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2014/sps/EEC/14_1107_01_e.pdf  
6. Description of content: Caramel colours (INS 150a-d) are food colours currently 
approved for use in the European Union in defined food categories in accordance with 
good manufacturing practice. In 2012 the Eu ropean Food Safety Authority issued a 
statement outlining a possible exceedance of  the Acceptable Daily Intake for ammonia 
caramel (INS 150c). The subcategory 14.2.1 "Beer and malt beverages" was identified 
as the main contributor. Therefore, it is appropriate to establish maximum use levels for 
ammonia caramel (E 150c) in food subcategory 14.2.1 "Beer and malt beverages" to guarantee a high level of protection of human health. 
Furthermore, a request was received for the use of caramel colours (E 150a-d) in malt 
beverages. Caramel colours are permitted only in beer and beer is not defined in the 
EU legislation. Therefore, a particular product classified as beer in one member State could be classified as a malt beverage in another. This situation has a negative impact 
on the internal market and hinders the free movement of these products. Therefore, it is 
appropriate to authorise the use of caramel colours in malt beverages.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   G/SPS/N/EU/68 
 
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  8. Is there a relevant international st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) CODEX STAN 192-1995 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[ ] None 
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
[ ] Yes   [X] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard: CODEX STAN 192-1995 permits the use of INS 150c at 
50,000 mg/kg. Due to the possible exceedance  of the ADI the limit in the European 
Union was established at 6,000 mg/kg in general and at 9,500 mg/kg for certain specific 
products. 
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:     
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : May 2014 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : May 2014 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 20 days after publication. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 3 May 2014 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
European Commission 
DG Health and Consumers, Unit G6-Multilateral International Relations Rue Froissart 101 
B-1049 Brussels 
Tel: +(32 2) 29 54263 Fax: +(32 2) 29 98090 E-mail: sps@ec.europa.eu 
13. Texts available from: [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
European Commission  
DG Health and Consumers, Unit G6-Multilateral International Relations Rue Froissart 101 
B-1049 Brussels 
Tel: +(32 2) 29 54263 Fax: +(32 2) 29 98090 E-mail: sps@ec.europa.eu