Commission Directive 2004/77/EC of 29 April 2004 amending Directive 94/54/EC as regards the labelling of certain foods containing glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt (Text with EEA relevance)

30.4.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 162/76
COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2004/77/EC
of 29 April 2004
amending Directive 94/54/EC as regards the labelling of certain foods containing glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs (1), and in particular Article 4(2) thereof,
After consulting the Scientific Committee on Food,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Directive 94/54/EC of 18 November 1994 concerning the compulsory indication on the labelling of certain foodstuffs of particulars other than those provided for in Directive 2000/13/EC (2) contains a list of foodstuffs for which the labelling must include one or more additional particulars.
(2) The purpose of this Directive is to supplement that list with regard to certain foods containing glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt.
(3) Glycyrrhizinic acid naturally occurs in the liquorice plant Glycyrrhiza glabra while its ammonium salt is manufactured from aqueous extracts of liquorice plant Glycyrrhiza glabra. Glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt are included in the Community register of flavouring substances laid down by Commission Decision 1999/217/EC of 23 February 1999 adopting a register of flavouring substances used in or on foodstuffs drawn up in application of Regulation (EC) No 2232/96 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 October 1996 (3). Exposure to glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt occur mostly via consumption of liquorice confectionery, including chewing gum, herbal teas and other beverages.
(4) The Scientific Committee on Food, in its opinion of 4 April 2003 on glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt, concluded that an upper limit for regular ingestion of 100 mg/day provides a sufficient level of protection for the majority of the population, consumption above this level may give rise to hypertension. However the Committee noted that within the human population there are subgroups for which this upper limit might not offer sufficient protection. These subgroups comprise people with medical conditions related to disturbed water- and electrolyte homeostasis.
(5) These findings make it necessary to provide labelling which gives the consumers clear information on the presence of glycyrrhizinic acid or its ammonium salt in confectionery and beverages. In the case of high contents of glycyrrhizinic acid or its ammonium salt in these products, the consumers, and in particular those suffering from hypertension, should in addition be informed that excessive intake should be avoided. To ensure a good understanding of these information by the consumers, the well known term ‘liquorice extracts’ should be preferably used.
(6) Directive 94/54/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(7) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,