Directive 97/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 1997 amending for the third time Directive 88/344/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States on extraction solvents used in the production of foodstuffs and food ingredients

DIRECTIVE 97/60/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 27 October 1997 amending for the third time Directive 88/344/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States on extraction solvents used in the production of foodstuffs and food ingredients
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 100a thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty (3),
Whereas the Scientific Committee for Food has reexamined all the extraction solvents listed in Directive 88/344/EEC (4), with a view to replacing the provisional acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) set in 1981 by definitive figures; whereas this has not always been possible because the information needed, although requested from the industry, has not been communicated; whereas, on the basis of the information received, the Scientific Committee for Food has been able to confirm its agreement for the majority of the solvents; whereas the maximum residues of the solvents in certain foodstuffs can be reduced;
Whereas some solvents are no longer used and should thus be taken off the list;
Whereas as a result of scientific progress other substances have been developed which can be added to the Directive; whereas a new solvent which has received a favourable opinion from the Scientific Committee should be authorized;
Whereas this new solvent, namely 1, 1, 1, 2-tetrafluoroethane, is used solely for the extraction of flavourings and whereas residues in foodstuffs do not exceed 0,02 mg/kg; whereas, apart from those residues, the solvent is fully recycled, so that its use under these conditions has no impact on global warming of the atmosphere;
Whereas the amendments needed, in the light of technical and scientific progress, amount to measures of a technical nature; whereas to simplify and speed up the procedure, adoption of these measures should be entrusted to the Commission;
Whereas a procedure of this kind makes for quicker placing on the market of innovations, which is to the benefit of both industry and the consumer,