. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/EEC/123 
15 September 2006 
 (06-4430) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:   European Commission 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be  indicated if different from above:    
European Commission 
EC-TBT Enquiry Point Fax:  (+32) 2 299 80 43 E-mail: ec-tbt@ec.europa.eu 
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [    ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [ X ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:         
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable):   Food additives, food 
enzymes and food flavourings. Numerous positions  within HS:  headings 0910, 2103, 2106, 
2901 to 2940, 3302, 3507. ICS:  67.220. 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Commission 
Document COM (2006) 423 final, 2006/0143(COD) Proposal for a Regulation of the 
European Parliament and of the Council est ablishing a common authorisation procedure 
for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings (21 pages, English French and 
German). 
6. Description of content:   This proposal aims to introduce common procedural aspects for 
the above substances. The procedures for the ha ndling of applications, evaluations by the 
European Food Safety Authority and approval vi a inclusion in the appropriate positive lists. 
As such the proposal is closely related to the individual proposed legislation on food 
additives, food enzymes and food flavourings.  
This proposal is also notified to the SPS Agreement under reference G/SPS/N/EEC/294. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
Protection of human health.   
Simplification and trade facilitation: Community harmonisation of the EC Member States’ 
national legislations relating to food additiv es and their conditions  of use was created 
seventeen years ago by Council Directive 89/107/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the 
approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning food additives for use in 
foodstuffs intended for human consumption . Since then this legisl ation has been modified G/TBT/N/EEC/123 
Page 2  
 
  several times. The community legislation on food flavourings was created in 1988, and the 
Community legislation on food enzymes falls within the scope of various pieces of EC legislation and also national legislation of Me mber States of the EC. Now, the Commission, 
with a view to clarify the legislative areas described a bove, with the ultimate aim of 
facilitating trade is proposing new clear rules. The other proposals, more directly related to  
the scientific criteria to be used in the analysis  of the risk, are notified to the SPS agreement  
G/SPS/N/EEC/291: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and Council on 
Food Additives [COM(2006) 428 final / 2006/0145 (COD )] 48 pages.  
G/SPS/N/EEC/292: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the 
Council on food enzymes and amending Council Directive 83/417/EEC, Council Regulation 
(EC) No 1493/1999, Directive 2000/13/EC, and Council Directive 2001/112/EC 
[COM(2006) 425 final. 2006/0144(COD)]37 pages. 
G/SPS/N/EEC/293: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the 
Council on flavourings and certain food ingredie nts with flavouring properties for use in 
and on foods and amending Council Regula tion (EEC) No 1576/89, Council Regulation 
(EEC) No 1601/91, Regulation (EC) No 2232/96 and Directive 2000/13/EC [COM(2006) 427 final  2006/0147 (COD)] 49 pages. 
8. Relevant documents:   Commission Document COM(2006)423 final, 2006/0143(COD) 
‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Pa rliament and of the Council establishing a 
common authorisation procedure for food add itives, food enzymes and food flavourings’   
To obtain a copy of the notified propo sal, and follow its progress go to:
http://ec.europa.eu/pre lex/detail_dossier_real.cfm?CL=en&DosId=194541  
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
 
 
   Proposed date of entry into force:    This proposal of the European Commission is 
submitted to the Council and to the European 
Parliament for its adoption according to the co-
decision procedure (Art icle 251 of the EC 
Treaty).  An exact date of adoption cannot be given at this moment although is expected to take place around May 2008  
End 2008 
10. Final date for comments:   90 days from circulation 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [    ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:   
European Commission 
EC-TBT Enquiry Point Fax: (+32) 2 299 80 43 E-mail:  ec-tbt@ec.europa.eu