WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2838/96 by Marianne THYSSEN to the Commission. Study of the impact of the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive relating to cocoa and chocolate products intended for human consumption
Date: 1996-10-25
Institutions: European Parliament, THYSSEN
Subjects: Cameroon, comparative study, confectionery product, consumer information, foodstuffs legislation, free movement of goods, product designation, vegetable butter, vegetable fats













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91996E2838

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2838/96 by Marianne THYSSEN to the Commission. Study of the impact of the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive relating to cocoa and chocolate products intended for human consumption  


Official Journal C 083 , 14/03/1997 P. 0077 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2838/96 by Marianne Thyssen (PPE) to the Commission (25 October 1996)Subject: Study of the impact of the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive relating to cocoa and chocolate products intended for human consumptionOn 30 May 1996 the Commission presented its proposal for a Directive on chocolate products (COM(95)722 final) ((OJ C 231, 9.8.1996, p. 1. )). The Commission is not unaware that this proposal is the subject of lively debate. On closer examination, it emerges that the debate is stimulated mainly by information put out by lobby groups. If there is to be a full and accurate assessment of the proposal's impact on the working of the single market and its implications for the developing countries, there is a need for objective facts not coloured by vested interests.1. Is the Commission aware of the existence of a study which includes such data?2. What information did the Commission take as its basis in drawing up the proposal for a Directive?3. If this information is not available at present, does the Commission plan to commission a study of this kind?Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (2 December 1996)1. The Commission has taken note of the study carried out by Professor Kees Burger of the University of Amsterdam in cooperation with the Dutch Ministry for Development on the European chocolate market and the consequences for cocoa and chocolate prices of the proposal for a Directive on cocoa and chocolate products.2. As part of preliminary work carried out prior to adoption of the proposal, the Commission took into account economic data provided by the secretariat of Icco (International Cocoa Organization) and by Caobisco (Association of the Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industries of the EEC), in particular to evaluate what effects using vegetable fats would have on the cocoa market and cocoa prices. The Commission concluded that its proposal would not have adverse consequences for the world cocoa market. It considered, however, that any realistic evaluation would have to be based on several different hypotheses, since its proposal, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, leaves Member States free to choose whether or not to authorize the use in chocolate products of vegetable fats other than cocoa butter.Moreover the Commission points out that when it adopted the proposal it also examined factors linked to the internal market and, in particular, barriers to the free movement of chocolate products in the Community, consumer information and the Community's international obligations.3. At the joint request of the Commission and the main African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, and in particular Cameroon, a macroeconomic study is being carried out to examine, amongst other things, the impact on the Cameroon economy of fluctuations in cocoa prices and the revision of the European Directive on the composition of chocolate. The Cameroon study could subsequently be extended to include other countries, in particular other ACP countries. The conclusions of the study are expected to be available at the end of the year.