Protection of human health: hygiene of foodstuffs

The committee adopted the report by Horst SCHNELLHARDT (EPP-ED, D) amending the Council's common position under the 2nd reading of the codecision procedure. It reinstated a few technical amendments adopted by Parliament at 1st reading, dealing with the specific hygiene measures to be adopted by food business operators and evidence of compliance with the rules. Other amendments allowed for the possibility of extending the areas which can be governed by guidelines (as opposed to amending the legislation) and deleted the clause giving the Commission the power to amend Annexes I and II under the commitology procedure. Lastly, MEPs said that measures should be taken to establish the cause of any diseases affecting food business employees who are likely to come into contact with food.�