WRITTEN QUESTION P-3925/02 by Cristina Gutiérrez-Cortines (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Competition.
Date: 2003-01-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: citrus fruit, common organisation of markets, competition, food additive, food safety, foodstuff

10.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 161 E/165

In relation to the involvement of the Parliament regarding the EUSF, the Commission will present before
1 July 2003 to the Parliament and to the Council a report on the activities of the Solidarity Fund in the
previous year. This report shall in particular contain information relating to Articles 3, 4 and 8.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of the 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity

Fund.

(2003/C 161 E/170)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3925/02

by Cristina Gutiérrez-Cortines (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 January 2003)

Subject: Competition

The Community lemon-producing sector is going through a difficult period, mainly because of the
excessive concessions granted by the EU to third-country produce. Furthermore, the latest reform of the
common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables has had a limited impact on the organisational
capacity of lemon producers in countries such as Spain, where only 20 % of production is channelled
through organisations.

The EU is about to amend Directive 95/2/EC (1) on food additives other than colours and sweeteners, and
in one of the initial drafts of the amended version the Commission proposes replacing the citric acid
obtained by synthesis (E330) by lemon juice, which has much healthier nutritional properties. This would
provide an outlet for a large proportion of the lemon surplus. Unfortunately, the Commission has modified
its original draft, reinstating the use of the artificial additive, used by the food and drink industry as an
acidity regulator.

Does the Commission not consider that
the amendment of Directive 95/2/EC provides a golden
opportunity for a partial solution to these problems, whilst offering the consumer a healthier alternative
at a time when the EU is increasingly often opting for improvements in the quality and safety of its
products? Finally, does the Commission intend to propose measures to improve the operation of the
common organisation of the market as part of a reform of the sector in the near future?

(1) OJ L 61, 18.3.1995, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(31 January 2003)

The use of citric acid (E 330) in foodstuffs, is regulated by the Parliament and Council Directive No 95/2/
EC of 20 February 1995 on food additives other than colours and sweeteners. The Scientific Committee on
Food has evaluated the safety of citric acid concluding that citric acid can be used safely in foodstuffs.
Therefore, there is no safety reason why citric acid could not be used in foodstuffs. It should be noted that
the use of food additives in food production is voluntary and that consumers are informed of the use
through labelling. Should the food manufacturers wish they may replace citric acid by lemon juice.
However, until now, many European food producers prefer to use citric acid as it offers technological
advantages over the use of lemon juice.

Regarding the common organisation of the market for fruit and vegetables, the Commission intends to
propose improvements of the current rules during the second quarter of 2003, as requested by the
Parliament in its Resolution of 5 July 2001 and by the conclusions of the Spanish Presidency in June
2002. One of the main issues the Commission intends to raise in its proposals concerns inter alia ways to
improve the degree of organisation and of concentration of supply in the fruit and vegetables sector,
including lemons.