Foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses (amend. Directive 89/398/EEC)

The specific directives which follow on from Directive 89/398/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses contain provisions governing the composition of the dietetic products in question. Amendments to be made to these directives, the main purpose of which is to include technological innovations, are approved in accordance with the procedure of the Standing Committee for Foodstuffs, after consultation with the Scientific Committee for Food. However, the procedure takes so long that the industries responsible for these innovations are unable to utilise the results of their research, thereby hampering their competitiveness at world level. The purpose of this proposal is to introduce a procedure granting temporary authorisation to market products based on this research, so that companies manufacturing dietetic products can take advantage of their innovations by having sufficient time to place their new products on the market ahead of the competition. Temporary marketing authorisation will be valid for a period of two years and will only be granted after consultation with the Scientific Committee for Food.�