Flavouring substances used or for use in foodstuffs

The common position of the Council takes into account the amendments incorporated in the amended proposal of the Commission, and notably those aimed at: - establishing a positive list of flavouring substances the use of which is authorized to the exclusion of all others; - including, in the inventory, general criteria for the evaluation of flavouring substances; - adding a recital concerning the confidentiality of data and the assurance of the protection of intellectual property connected with the development and manufacture of a flavouring substance; - ensuring that the evaluation of the safety of flavouring substances containing a genetically modified organism takes into account environmental safety as provided for in Directive 90/220/EEC; - specifying (in the annex) that flavouring substances should present no risk to the health of the consumer; must be kept under constant supervision and must be re-evaluated whenever necessary; do not mislead the consumer; cannot be authorized until the Scientific Committee for Food has delivered its opinion. In addition, the common position substantially tightens the procedures for laying down the positive list of flavourings. At the first stage this provides for: - the notification to the Commission by the Member States of the substances which may be used on their territory; - within one year from the end of the notification period the Commission will adopt after an opinion from the Standing Committee for Food an inventory of flavourings whose legal use in foodstuffs will be recognized by the other Member States; - within ten months from the adoption of the inventory, the adoption of a programme for evaluation of all substances included in the inventory. During this period, the Member States could suspend or restrict the use of a flavouring substance under a specific safeguard clause. Second stage: within five years from the adoption of the evaluation programme, the adoption by the Commission of the positive list following the Commitology procedure IIIb. �