G/SPS/N/EU/165  
 
18 May 2016  
(16-2714)  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 Food Safety 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): Food additives 
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 (EU) 2016/683 of 2 May 2016 
amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 133 3/2008 of the European Parliament and of 
the Council as regards the use of propionic acid-propionates (E 280-283) in tortillas 
(Text with EEA relevance)  Language(s): English, French and Spanish  Number of 
pages: 2 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/EEC/16_1948_00_e.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/EEC/16_1948_00_f.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/SPS/EEC/16_1948_00_s.pdf  
6. Description of content: The use of Propionic acid-propionates is requested for the 
extension of the shelf-life of tortillas. Propionic acid-propionates are widely used to prevent the growth of moulds in leavened ba kery products, due to their minimal effect 
on yeast and on the odour or taste of the final product. 
The European Food Safety Authority ("the Authority"), in its opinion on the re-evaluation 
of propionic acid (E 280), sodium propionate (E 281), calcium propionate (E 282) and potassium propionate (E 283) as food additives, concluded that there would not be a 
safety concern from the maximum concentrations of those substances at their currently 
authorised uses and use levels as food additives. The authorisation of the use of propionates in tortillas is an extension which would not lead to additional concern as the 
exposure assessment done by the Authority covered food category 07.1 Bread and rolls. 
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.   
8. Is there a relevant international st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial  n u m b e r  o f  C o d e x  
standard or related text) Codex General Standard for Food Additives 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    G/SPS/N/EU/165 
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[ ] None Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
[X] Yes   [ ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 2 May 2016 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 3 May 2016 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 23 May 2016 
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable 
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 Food Safety, Unit D2-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. Text(s) available from: [X] National Notifi cation Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
European Commission  
DG Health and Food Safety, Unit D2-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