Human consumption: new sweeteners additives, sucralose and salt of aspartame (amend. Directive 94/35/EC)

PURPOSE: the adaptation of the positive list of sweeteners established by Directive 94/35/EC. LEGISLATIVE ACT: Directive 2003/115/EC of the European Parliament and the Council amending Directive 94/35/EC on sweeteners for use in foodstuffs. CONTENT: The Council adopted in second reading the European Parliament's amendments to the proposal. The adopted Directive takes the form of the common position as amended. The Directive seeks to adapt Directive 94/35/EC concerning sweeteners for use in foodstuffs in line with recent scientific and technical progress. It provides for: - the authorisation of two new sweeteners, sucralose and the salt of aspartame and acesulfame, which have been found acceptable for use in food by the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF); - the reduction in the consumption of an already authorised sweetener, cyclamic acid and its sodium and calcium salts, (following the SCF's opinion) by reducing the acceptable daily intake (ADI) applicable to this substance; - giving the Commission the competence to decide whether a substance should be considered a sweetener within the meaning of the Directive. By 29 January 2006 at the latest, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council outlining the progress made in the re-evaluations of additives under way and setting out a provisional calendar for future re-evaluations, especially those for sucralose and salt of aspartame-acesulfame. These re-evaluations shall be carried out on the basis of consumer data supplied by the Member States and shall take account of the effects of additives on vulnerable population groups. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 29/01/2004. IMPLEMENTATION: Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive in order to: - authorise trade in and use of products conforming with this Directive by 29 January 2005 at the latest, - prohibit trade in and use of products not conforming with this Directive by 29 July 2005 at the latest; however, products placed on the market before that date which do not comply with this Directive may be marketed until 29 January 2006.�