Protection of human health: addition of nutrients to food

The Commission can accept all 8 amendments adopted by the European Parliament in full. They are the result of a compromise agreement reached between the European Parliament, Council and Commission during the second reading.

The main modifications introduced by these amendments are the following:

-          introduce a definition of other substances in line with the one present in the draft Regulation on nutritional and health claims (refer to COD/2003/0165);

-          provide that substances put under scrutiny in accordance with the procedure described in Article 8 and then generally allowed are listed in the Community register;

-          underline that vitamins and minerals added to foods have to be bioavailable to the human body;

-          provide that, prior to making modification to the Annexes, the Commission has to carry out consultations with interested parties;

-          foresee that the Commission may submit a proposal for the maximum amounts of vitamins and minerals added to foods by two years from the date of entry into force of the Regulation;

-          provide that foods placed on the market or labelled prior to the date of application of the Regulation and which do not comply with it, may be marketed until thirty-fifth months following the date of entry into force of the Regulation;

-          give into a recital an example of restrictions regarding the food to which vitamins and minerals can be added and specify that such restrictions should concern particular vitamins and minerals.

The amendments are in line with the Commission’s objectives for the proposal and maintain the balance of interests achieved in the common position.