Food additives other than colours and sweeteners: amending Annexes

PURPOSE: to amend European Parliament and Council Directive 95/2/EC on food additives other than colours and sweeteners in the light of recent technical and scientific developments. CONTENT: An amendment is proposed for the positive list of food additives as laid down in Directive 95/2/EC. This Directive was developed according to the provisions of the framework Directive 89/107/EEC on food additives, which requested the Commission to make a proposal on all food additives and the food categories in which the approved food additives may be used together with their maximum levels. This proposed amendment allows the use of some new food additives which are currently forbidden but have been recently evaluated by the Scientific Committee on Food and found acceptable for human consumption. Furthermore some new food additives, authorised temporarily by some Member States and evaluated by the Scientific Committee on Food, are included. In addition, the proposal allows food additives already authroised to be used in certain new applications. It is proposed that the additives E467 Ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose and E949 Hydrogen be added to Annex I (Food additives generally permitted for use in foodstuffs not referred to in Article 2 (3) of Directive 95/2/EC). To Annex II (Foodstuffs in which a lmimited number of additives of Annex I may be used), it is proposed that E401 Sodium alginate (in regard to peeled and cut ready-to-eat carrots) should be added (quantum satis). To Annex IV (Other permitted additives), the following foodstuffs and maximum levels shall be added to E445 (Glycerol esters of wood rosin) in regard to spirit drinks in accordance with Council Regulation 1576/89/EEC laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks (100 mg/l) and spirit drinks containing less than 15% alcohol by volume (100mg/l). To the end of Annex IV it is proposed that E650 (Zinc acetate) in regard to chewing gum (1000mg/kg), and E943a (Butane) in regard to vegetable oil pan spray (for professional use only), E943b (Isobutane) and E944 (Propane) in regard to water-based emulsion sprays (quantum satis) be added. To Annex V (Permitted carriers and carrier solvents) the following E-number would be added : E1520 (Propan-1,2-diol (propylene glycol)) in respect of colours, emulsifiers, antioxifdant and enzymes (maximum 1g/kg in the foodstuff).�