Human consumption: fruit jams, jellies, marmalades and chestnut purée

OBJECTIVE: pursuant to the undertakings given by the Community, simplification of certain vertical Directives relating to food to take account only of the essential requirements to be met by the products they cover in order that those products may move freely within the internal market. SUBSTANCE: the proposal for a Council Directive relating to jams and chestnut purée adapts Directive 79/693/EEC to general legislation on foodstuffs and, in particular, legislation on colouring agents, sweeteners, and other authorized additives. The proposal defines 'extra marmalade', 'marmalade jelly' and 'extra marmalade jelly' to take account of new products on the market. Directive 79/693/EEC stipulates that the products covered must have a soluble dry matter content of not less than 60%, consisting primarily of sugars. However, Member States are authorized to use the designations reserved by the Directive for products with a soluble dry matter content of less than 60%. The label must bear the total sugar content in every case. In view of the differences between the manufacturing methods used in the individual Member States, the Commission feels that this issue can be settled by the Member States, provided the label indicates the total sugar content. �