CELEX: 51975PC0254
Language: en
Date: 1975-06-05
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE for an amendment to Directive 64/54/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning the preservatives authorized for use in foodstuffs intended for Ionian consumption (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
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DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (75) 254
Vol. 1975/0091
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN CQMMUMTÏES
                                                             COM(75 ) 254 final
                                                             Brussels . 5 June 1975 .
                                   PROPOSAL FOR A
                                  COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
               for an amendment to Directive 64/54/ ESC on the
          approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning the
  preservatives authorized for use in foodstuffs intended for Ionian consumption
                   { submitted to the Council by the Commission)
  COI.î(75) 254 final
 ---pagebreak---                              E3PLATAT0RY TEKORflMDIJM
1 . The Council Directive on Preservatices for use in foodstuffs ( 1 )
       as last amended "by the Directive of 22 July 1974(2 ) provides for
       the use of methyl p-hydroxybenzoate ( '2218 ) as- preservative , and
       sodium nitrite and sodium propionate as substances having a subsidary
       preservative effect .
2 . The Treaty of Accession , Annex VII ( lX.2 ) ( 3 ) allows     new Member
       States to use sodium derivative of methyl p-hydroxybenzoate , potassium
       nitrite and potassium propionate , where this use was authorised "by
       national Legislation at the tirae of Accession. This derogation
       expires on 31 December 1977 * There is a great deal of chemical
       similarity "between the sodium derivative ox methyl p-hydroxybenzoate -
       snd the ester itself , between sodium and potassium nitrite and between
       sodium and potassium propionate . The equivalent compounds can be
       used as alternatives .
3.     The aim of the present Directive is to allow all the Member States the
       facility to use these latter additives since it is clear that
       permission to use these substances throughout the Community has
       economic advantages .
4 . Prom the tcxicological point of view the assessment of the safety in
       use of the sodium derivative of methyl p-hydroxybenzoate is so similar
       to that of the ester that the Scientific Committee for Pood has no
       objection to the inclusion of the sodium salt as well as the ester »
       in the Directive , Similarily, the Scientific Coacfittee for Pood
       has no objection , from the point of view of safety in use to the
       extension of the Xist of Preservatives to include the two potassium
       salts since the use of potassium nitrite or potassium propionate
       instead of the sodium salt creates no problems of safety in use and , indeed , in
        eome cases may be advantageous <. The advice of the Committee is attached to this
        note .
5 . It is already provided for in the basic Directive that at a second
       stage the Community will act on the approximation of the laws concern?-
        ing individual foodstuffs to which the preservatives listed in the
       Directive may be added .
 ( 1 ) CJ No 12 , 27.1.1964» p. 161/64.                                  ./•
  ( 2 ) CJ !fo L2O0 , 30.7-74, p. 25-
  ( 3 ) CJ Spécial Edition ( L73 ) 27 . 3.1 972»
 ---pagebreak---                                      2  -
    However , it is not the intention of the present proposal to enter
    into this field , "but merely to amend in a limited manner the existing
    provisions *
6.  The amendment to Article 7 of the Directive "brings the wording in
    line with that recently agreed in similar circumstances during the
    elaboration of the Directive on Emulsif iers , Stabilisers , Thickeners
    and Gelling Agents .    This is an interim modification which will be ,
    open to change when measures are taken concerning contaminants . in
    food#
                                                , 1 J
7 « Similar modifications will shortly be included in the corresponding
    paragraphs of the Directive on Colours and Antioxidants in Food on
    the occasion of the next amendments , of these Directives .
                            /
 ---pagebreak--- Proposal for a Council Directive for an 11th amendment to Directive 64/54/EEC
on tie approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning the preserva­
tives authorized for use in foodstuffs intended fcr human consumption
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN . COMMUNITIES ,  .
Having regard, to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community and
in particular Article 100 thereof )
Having regard to the proposal from - the Commission ,
Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament ,
Having regard to the Opinion of the Economics and Social Committee , .
Ifcereas the Council Directive 64/54/EEC of 5 November 19^3 ( l ) on the approxi­
mation of the laws of Member States concerning the preservatives authorized f&r
use in food intended for human consumption , as last amended by the Council Di­
rective 74/354/EEC of 22 July 1974 ( 2 ) provides for the use of the preservative
methyl p-hydrcxybensoate (E2lC ) "but not its sodium derivative ?
Whereas the aformentioned Directive also authorizes the use of sodium nitrite
(E250 ) and sodium propionate (E28l ) as substances havirg a subsidiary preserva­
tive effect but not potassium nitrite ar.d potassium propionate ;
Whereas the usafulnssg of the sodium derivative of methyl p-hydroxybenzoate ,
potassium nitrite and potassium propionate has been demonstrated on a techno­
logical plans at Community level to replace partially or wholly the use of
methyl p-hydrexybensoate , sodium nitrite and sodium propionate respectively :
Khereas the addition of these substances ta the list of permitted preservatives
creates no hazards to health , having regard to the toxicological examinations
carried out on this subject ?
Whereas it is convenient at the same time to modify the provisions in the Direc­
tive concerning the presence of toxicologically dangerous elements as an interim
measure until the Community legislation ori these contaminants to food is complete
and to bring this Directive in conformity with ths Council Directive 74./329/EI2C 0
18 June 1974 on the approximation of / the laws of the Men-.ber States relating to
Smulsifiercjj Stabilisers , Thickeners and Gelling Agents for use in foodstuffs ?
                                                                               /...
( 1 ) 0.T No . 12 of 27.1.1964 , p. 161/64,
(2
( 2 ) OJ No . L 208 of 30.7-1974 » p.25 »
(3 ) OJ No . L 189 of 12.7.1974 , p. .!♦
 ---pagebreak---                                                     - 4 -
HAS ADOPTE® THIS DIRECTIVE , ..                ,
   * -        i, .      ......    .' .             "              '
                                                Article 1
Article 1 of the Directive 64/54/2EC is amended as follows :
Article 7 f paragraph (a) is replaced by :
" ( a) the following general criteria of purity
       - they shall not contain a toxicologicaily dangerous amount of any
          element , in particular heavy metals ;
       - they shall not contain more than 3 mg/kg of arsenic or more than
          10 irg/kg of lead }
       - they shall not contain more than 50 mg/kg of copper and zinc taken
          together of which the zinc content must in no case exceed 25 mg/kg
          subject to any exception deriving from the specific criteria of purity
          refarred to in (b)
                                          • •  Article 2
                            >•             • „ 1 ;                      .             ' .•    V,'
Part 1 of the Annex of the Directive 64/54/EEC is modified, as follows :. .
                  ESC Number                        Marne             (    Conditions of use      i
                                                                      I    J       ;
        i      ;
                                     | Sodium derivative of
                   E219              I methyl p-hydrOTcy-
                                     [ berxzo&te
 !
                                               Artic le 3
                                                 m il ■■■ «i « t»–rf»
Part II of the Annex of the Directive 64/54/EEC is modified as follows :
        !                      1
        i          EEC Number                       Name                  Conditions of use
            :      E249              potassium nitrite                    Solely in a mixture
                                                                          with sodium chloride
                   E283              potassium propionate
                                 ( potaesium ealt òf                           )             ,
                                     propionic acid )
                                                                                                    • • •I
 ---pagebreak---                                  Article 4
Member States shall "bring into force not later than 12 months after notifi­
cation ef this Directive , the laws , regulations or administrative pro-srisiaEs,
necessary to comply with this directive ar^d shall forthwith inform the
Commission .
                                 Article 5
The Directive ic addressed to Member States .
Dons at Brassais ,                               For the Counci 1 ,
                                                 The Chairman .
 ---pagebreak---                                             Anr.9.x I
OPINION 0? TEE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE FOR POOD
                      on
    Scdiura metbjl parahydroy.y'ber zoa^e .
potassrum nitrite and poiassium propionate
      Cpinisn expressed 15 Novernber 1974
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 2 -                  Annex  I
                                                (
TERMS OF RHFERENCE
To give an epinion on whether the sodium derivative of methyl parahydroxy-
csnzoaxof potassium nitrite and potassium propionate could from the point cf
view of safety in use be added to the Community list of Preservatives for
use in food .
CONCLUSIONS
1 . The sodium derivative of methyl parahydroxybenzoate could "be added to
    the Community list of preservatives for use in food .
2 . Potassium propionate could "be addod to the Community list of preservatives
    for use in food .                         %    ~
3 . Potassium nitrite could be added to the Community list of preservatives
    for use in food under the saiiie conditions as for the sodium salt .
4 » The Committee draws the attention cf the Commission to the need for a
    review of
    a) the use of nitrite and nitrate ?
    b) the balance in hmuan nutrition of mineral ions , in particular ,
       of sodium and potassium .