Human consumption: new sweeteners additives, sucralose and salt of aspartame (amend. Directive 94/35/EC)

The common position is based on the amended Commission proposal that took several amendments proposed by the European Parliament into account. It has been adopted by the Council by unanimity. The Commission accepted 2 amendments adopted by the European Parliament at its first reading. Of these 2 amendments, the common position takes one into account. The common position does not include European Parliament amendments that were rejected by the Commission. Additional changes have been included in the common position as a result of discussions in the Council. Furthermore, as explained below, the Commission and the Council have moved towards the European Parliament concerning the maximum permitted level for cyclamates in soft drinks and milk and juice based drinks. The two amendments accepted by the Commission of the European Parliament without changes: One concerning the recital on cyclamates and the other concerning the delays for the transposition of the Directive. The common position takes over the amendment concerning the recital on cyclamates. The Parliament adopted a further amendment lowering the maximum permitted dose for cyclamate for soft drinks to 100 mg/l and extending this reduction to milk and juice based drinks. The Commission could not accept the value voted by the Parliament. However, the Commission proposed in its amended proposal a further reduction and extended this reduction to milk and juice based drinks (250 mg/l). The common position follows the Commission amended proposal in this matter. In the light of the above comments, the Commission agrees with the common position by the Council with a view of the adoption of a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 94/35/EC on sweeteners for use in foodstuffs. The Commission's declarations to the minutes of the Council are as follows: - Ad Annex point 4(a) : The Commission undertakes to keep under review the maximum usable doses of E 952 cyclamic acid and its sodium and calcium salts taking account inter-alia of information on intakes from Member States. - Ad Annex point 5 : The Commission undertakes to examine within a period of four years the sucralose consumption study results provided by the Member States in accordance with the procedures followed for the report on food additive consumption submitted in October 2001.�