Protection of human health: hygiene of foodstuffs

The committee adopted the report by Horst SCHNELLHARDT (EPP-ED, D) broadly approving the proposal under the codecision procedure (1st reading), subject to a large number of amendments aimed mainly at ensuring consistency and clarity. Several amendments, for example, were designed to bring the proposed regulation into line with the text of the regulation laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety. The committee also wanted it to be specified, in Article 1, that the regulation should also apply to foodstuffs produced for export to non-EU countries. On the question of the application of the HACCP system in all food businesses, the committee wanted the HACCP principle to apply to primary production insofar as possible and said that the further introduction of HACCP practices must be encouraged. It also said that food business operators should declare all establishments under their control to the competent authority and supply all necessary information in order to keep the list of premises up to date. Moreover, the competent authority should not be required to give food business operators advance notice of any official inspections. In another amendment the committee sought to ensure that the Member States could grant exemptions to the regulation, in regions with "special geographical constraints", with a view to taking account not only of traditional methods of production, as stated in the proposal, but also of raw materials which are characteristic of the production process, provided these have no lasting effects on food hygiene. It added that such exemptions should be granted on a uniform and scientifically sound basis and be coordinated by the Commission. Lastly, the committee wanted the Commission to report to Parliament and Council on the implementation of the regulation within 5 years, rather than 7 years as originally proposed.�