Cocoa and chocolate products intended for human consumption

PURPOSE: to establish common rules relating to cocoa and chocolate products intended for human consumption. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Directive 2000/36/EC of the European Parliament and the Council relating to cocoa and chocolate products intended for human consumption. CONTENT: Council Directive 73/241/EEC layed down definitions and common rules in respect of the composition, manufacturing specifications, packaging and labelling of cocoa and chocolate products so as to ensure their free movement within the Community. However, in light of developments in recent decades, the addition of certain vegetable fats other than cocoa butter to chocolate products, up to a maximum of 5%, should be permitted in all Member States. Those vegetable fats should be cocoa butter equivalents and therefore be defined according to technical and scientific criteria. Other main provisions of the Directive include the following: - in order to guarantee the single nature of the internal market, all chocolate products covered by this Directive must be able to move within the Community under the sales names set out in this Directive; - in the case of chocolate products in which vegetable fats other than cocoa butter have been added, concumers should be guaranteed correct, neutral and objective information in addition to the list of ingredients; - the derogation provided for in Directive 73/241/EEC allowing the United Kingdom and Ireland to authorise the use on their territory of the name 'milk chocolate' to designate 'milk chocolate with high milk content' should be maintained. However, the English name 'milk chocolate with high milk content' should be replaced with the name 'family milk chocolate'; - cocoa, cocoa butter and a series of other vegetable fats used in the manufacture of chocolate are mainly produced in developing countries. It is in the interests of people living in developing countries that agreements of as long a duration as possible should be concluded. The Commission should therefore consider how the Community can support this in the case of coccoa butter and other vegetable fats; - to avoid creating new barriers to free circulation, Member States should refrain from adopting, for the products in question, national provisions not provided for by this Directive. - Council Directive 73/241/EEC is repealed with effect from 03.08.2003. In conclusion, at the latest by 03.08.2003, the European Parliament and the Council shall re-examine, on a proposal from the Commission, with a view to possible extension, the procedure of adaptation to technical and scientific progress. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 03.08.2000. TRANSPOSITION INTO NATIONAL LAW: 03.08.2003.�