Cocoa and chocolate products intended for human consumption

The committee adopted the recommendation for second reading (codecision procedure) by Paul LANNOYE (Greens/EFA, B) approving the Council's common position with only two amendments. The committee called for a ban on the use of genetic engineering in cocoa and chocolate products in view of consumers' distrust of such methods. It also asked the Commission to consider how the interests of the producing countries could best be defended, for example by promoting "fair trade", given that cocoa, cocoa butter and vegetable fats used in the manufacture of chocolate were mainly produced in third world countries. �