OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Directive 95/2/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on food additives other than colours and sweeteners
Date: 1995-10-25
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: approximation of laws, food additive, foodstuffs legislation, human nutrition, product designation













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51995AC1156

OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Directive 95/2/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on food additives other than colours and sweeteners  


Official Journal C 018 , 22/01/1996 P. 0020 





Opinion on the proposal for a European Parliament and  Council Directive amending Directive 95/2/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on food  additives other than colours and sweeteners ()(96/C 18/05)On 5 October 1995 the Council  decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 100a of the Treaty establishing  the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal. The Section for Protection of the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Affairs, which was  responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 19 September  1995. The Rapporteur was Mr Gardner, Co-Rapporteurs were Mr de Knegt and Mr Koopman. At its 329th Plenary Session (meeting of 25 October 1995), the Economic and Social Committee  unanimously adopted the following Opinion. The Committee agrees with the Commission proposal, subject to the following considerations  and comments. 1. Introduction()E 407, carrageenan is an extract prepared from algae which is used as a  thickener. The Commission now proposes to permit also E 407a which it calls 'alternatively refined  carrageenan'. This is made from Eucheuma algae and is also a thickener. Unlike E407 this contains  precipitated algal cells and therefore has a higher level of fibre. The two therefore differ both  technologically and nutritionally. When directive 95/2/EC was drafted, the safety-in-use tests on E 407a had not been completed. These  are now complete and the Scientific Committee for Food (SCF) has given E 407 and E 407a the same  safety evaluation. 2. Comments2.1. The Committee approves the proposal subject to the following changes: 2.2. The proposed name is both meaningless and may be misleading. While carrageenan is a refined  gum, this material is carrageenan plus an appreciable residue of algal cell material. The name (or  E number) of course has to be given on the wrapper of the finished product. For better consumer  information the most meaningful name should be chosen. The Commission therefore needs to find a  more meaningful name and one which clearly differentiates the two products. 2.3. Given the substantial amount of algal material, a very tight specification is needed including  specification of the species of algae. 2.4. The Committee suggests 'Eucheuma Gum' as a possibility. 2.5. Since the alternative wrapper information is the E number, the market would be better served  by having a number which is clearly different from that used for carrageenan. 2.6. The Committee understands that E 407a has been proposed because Codex has not yet been able to  discuss the matter and the Commission would prefer to keep Codex and EEC numbers the same. 2.7. The Committee understands that the number E 408 can be made available. The Commission should  investigate and change its proposed number to E 408 or another one, agreed within Codex. Done at Brussels, 25 October 1995. The Presidentof the Economic and Social CommitteeCarlos FERRER() OJ No C  163, 29. 6. 1995, p. 12.