# CE2004078EN.01007101.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/71 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/71

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(2004/C 78 E/0070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2051/03

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 June 2003)

Subject:   Essential oils and consumer protection

Subject:

The seventh amendment to the Cosmetics Directive went to some lengths to ensure that consumers were protected in relation to the use of essential oils. Such oils are included in products eaten by consumers, for example yoghurt with lavender oil. Would it not be consistent to put the same warning on such foods as on cosmetic products? Is the Commission proposing to do this? If not, why not?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2003)

(31 July 2003)

Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products (1) does not restrict the use of essential oils as such in cosmetic products but requests the labelling of certain substances if they are present in cosmetic products above certain levels.

1

For the use of flavourings and food ingredients with flavouring properties (e.g. herbs and spices) in and on foods, Community legislation follows a different approach in order to protect human health. The Framework Directive 88/388/EEC on flavourings (2) prohibits the addition of substances as such to foods if they raise toxicological concern. For their unavoidable presence in flavoured/spiced foods due to their natural occurrence in plants, like common herbs, the Directive sets maximum levels. Essential oils fall under the definition of ‘flavouring preparations’ to which the limits for these substances also apply. Given this strict approach, Directive 2000/13/EC (3) does not request the labelling of specific names of substances, but requires to inform consumers about the presence of flavourings in food by the term ‘flavouring’.

2

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At the request of the Commission, the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) has evaluated a number of such naturally occurring substances during the past two years. The opinions are available from the web site ‘Flavourings’ of the Directorate General Health and Consumer Protection: (http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/ fs/sfp/addit_flavor/flavourings/index_en.html).

On the basis of these opinions, the Commission is currently elaborating an update of the list of naturally occurring substances which should not be added as such to foods as well as an update of their maximum levels in foods. This update will be part of a proposal for a new framework regulation on flavourings which should replace Directive 88/388/EEC.

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(1)  OJ L 262, 27.9.1976.

1

(2)  Council Directive 88/388/EEC of 22 June 1988 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to flavourings for use in foodstuffs and to source materials for their production, OJ L 184, 15.7.1988.

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(3)  Directive 2000/13/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs, OJ L 109, 6.5.2000.

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