| Posted: July 12, 2007 |
EU Parliament votes for tougher food additives regulation |
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(Nanowerk News) The European Parliament this week voted through four regulations relating to food ingredients - on authorisation procedure, additives, enzymes and flavourings - with notable amendments aimed at providing a heightened level of consumer protection across the bloc.
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The European Commission adopted proposals for a common authorisation procedure on food additives, enzymes, and flavourings in July last year, with the intention of harmonising rules across the bloc and affording consumers the same level of protection no matter which member state they reside in. Presently there are around 12 different regulations governing the additives area, some of which are scientifically outmoded.
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The amendments, agreed at a meeting of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, are stronger than the original proposal. In the case of the authorisation procedure, the Members of European Parliament want more transparency on decisions and the reasons behind them.
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They drew attention to the gap in knowledge of potential risks associated with nanotechnology, saying that the permitted limits for an additive in nanoparticle form should not be the same as when it is in traditional form.
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Read the full article in foodnavigator.com.
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