No C 59/66 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 8. 3. 78 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Directive  amending  for the second  time  Directive 
70/357/EEC  on the approximation  of the laws  of the Member  States  concerning  the antiox-
idants  authorized  for use in foodstuffs  intended  for human  consumption 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has been  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 300  of 13 December  1977,  page  5. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 28 November  1977  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  100  of the Treaty  establishing  the Euro-
pean  Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the above  matter  at its 154th 
plenary  session  held  in Brussels  on 14 and  15 December  1977. 
The full  text of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the Treaty  establishing  the European 
Economic  Community,  and  in particular  Article  100 
thereof, 
Having  regard  to the request  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  of the  European  Communities  on 28 
November  1977, 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its chairman  on 
14 November  1977,  in anticipation  of an imminent 
request  for an opinion,  instructing  the Section  for Pro-
tection  of the  Environment,  Public  Health  and  Con-
sumer  Affairs  to draw  up an opinion  and  a report  on 
the matter, 
Having  regard  to the opinion  issued  by that  Section  at 
its meeting  on 6 December  1977, 
Having  regard  to the report  submitted  by the rappor-
teur,  Mr De Grave, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 154th  plenary 
session  held  on 14 and  15 December  1977  (meeting  of 
14 December), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously: 
The Committee  expresses  qualified  approval  of the draft 
Directive.  It would  make  the following  comments. 1. Ethoxyquin 
1.1. The  Committee  observes  that,  although  the Scien-
tific Committee  for Food  did not come  out against  the 
use of ethoxyquin,  its attitude  was  guarded: 
'Because  of the  inadequacy  of the  long-term  and 
reproduction  studies,  acceptance  can  only  be tem-
porary  and  the results  of additional  studies  will  be 
required  by the  end  of 1978.  Meantime,  further 
extension  of use cannot  be considered.  In addition, 
information  is required  on residues  in other  foods 
resulting  from  the use of ethoxyquin  as an animal 
feedingstuffs  additive  as well  as the results  of total 
diet studies.' 
1.2. The  Committee  considers  that  ethoxyquin  may  be 
authorized  for the time  being  for the treatment  of apples 
and pears  in the same  way  as diphenyl  has  been  au-
thorized  for the treatment  of citrus  fruit. 
1.3. In view  of the fact  that  the peel  of apples  and pears 
is more  frequently  consumed  than  citrus  peel,  ethoxy-
quin may  appear  on the Community  list: 
— for  the time  being, 
8. 3. 78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 59/67 
— for  use on apples  and  pears, 
— provided  that  the  consumer  is notified  unambigu-
ously  by  means  of the  warning  'treated  with 
ethoxyquin'  in like  manner  to diphenyl. 
1.4. The  Committee  asks  the Commission  to propose  a 
single  Directive  covering  products  used  to treat  fruit  and 
vegetables  after  harvesting,  irrespective  of whether  the 
products  currently  appear  on Community  lists. 
2. Calcium  disodium  ethylene  diamine  tetra  acetate 
2.1. In point  of fact,  this additive  is a chelating  agent  (it 
captures  free  metallic  ions)  and  not  an anti-oxidant  in 
the strict  sense  of the  word.  It is used  medically,  for 
instance  to treat  lead  poisoning. 
2.2. However,  this  additive  is also  liable  to capture 
calcium  ions.  It should,  therefore:  * 
— not  be incorporated  into  a large  number  of food-
stuffs  or in widely  consumed  foodstuffs, 
— not  be eaten  by sensitive  categories  of people:  young 
children,  pregnant  women,  old  people  and  other 
people  who  are sensitive  from  the point  of view  of 
the metabolism  of calcium. 
2.3. The  Committee  observes  that  the conditions  set by 
the Scientific  Committee  for Food  for authorizing  this 
additive  have  not  been  met.  To introduce  this  additive 
without  concomitant  Community  measures  designed  to 
make  sure  that  its use is restricted  would  be in conflict 
with  the views  expressed  by the Scientific  Committee. 
Furthermore,  such  a step  would  be liable  to multiply 
technical  barriers  to trade  and  considerably  impede 
further  approximation. 
2.4. The  Committee  therefore  proposes  to the  Com-
mission  and  to the Council  that: 
— for  the time  being,  it be provided  that  the Member 
States  may  keep  national  regulations  which  au-
Done  at Brussels,  14 December  1977. thorize  the  use  of calcium  disodium  ethylene 
diamine  tetra-acetate  in certain  foods; 
— within  a very  short  time  a definitive  solution  be 
proposed,  comprising: 
— a list of the foods  in which  this  additive  may  be 
used,  and  authorized  quantities, 
— labelling  requirements  designed  to provide  in-
formation  for  particularly  sensitive  sectors  of 
the population. 
2.5. This  solution  ought  to bring  about  conditions  in 
which  health  is safeguarded,  food  can  be traded  in 
freely  and calcium  disodium  ethylene  diamine  tetra-ace-
tate can be used  properly. 
2.6. While  the Committee  approves  the choice  of cal-
cium  disodium  ethylene  diamine  tetra-acetate,  rather 
than  disodium  ethylene  diamine  tetra-acetate,  it points 
out that  the fact  that  disodium  ethylene  diamine  tetra-
acetate  can  combine  with  calcium  in food  will  make 
checks  difficult,  particularly  on imports  and  in Member 
States  where  there  is no provision  for checks  to be car-
ried out in production  units. 
3. Propyl  allate 
3.1. The  Committee  draws  the Commission's  attention 
to scientific  work  which  seems  to show  that  there  are 
risks  in ingesting  propyl  gall  ate at the  same  time  as 
BHA  (butyl  hydroxyanisole)  or BHT  (butyl  hydroxy-
toluene).  No  final  position  should  be taken  on this 
matter  until  this  work  has been  confirmed  or disproved. 
3.2. Subject  to this  reservation,  the  Committee  ap-
proves  the decision  to include  propyl  gallate.  It trusts 
that measures  will  be adopted  soon  to delimit  its use. 
Incorporation  of propyl  gallate  in drinks  and  chewing 
gum should  be subjected  to special  attention. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic 
and Social  Committee 
Basil  de FERRANTI