31.10.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L 283/71 COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2003/95/EC of 27 October 2003 amending Directive 96/77[EC laying down specific purity criteria on food additives other than colours and sweeteners (Text with EEA relevance) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 89/107/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning food additives authorised for use in foodstuffs intended for human consumption (), as amended by Directive 94/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (3), and in particular Article 3(3)(a) thereof, After consulting the Scientific Committee on Food, Whereas: (1)  Directive 95/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 February 1995 on food additives other than colours and sweeteners (°), as last amended by Directive 2001/5/EC (¥), lays down a list of substances which may be used as additives other than colours and sweeteners in foodstuffs. (2)  Commission Directive 96/77[EC (), as last amended by Directive 2002/82/EC (), sets out the purity criteria for the additives mentioned in Directive 95/2/EC. (3)  The Scientific Committee on Food concluded in its opinion of 6 May 2002 that the presence of ethylene oxide should be brought below the detection limit. Consequently, the relevant criterion of the existing purity criteria set out in Directive 96/77/EC needs to be adapted. (4) It is necessary to adapt to technical progress the existing purity criteria for E 251 sodium nitrate and E 459 beta- cyclodextrin. (5) It is necessary to take into account the specifications and analytical techniques for additives as set out in the Codex Alimentarius as drafted by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). (6)  Directive 96/77[EC should therefore be amended accord- ingly. (7)  The measures provided for in this Directive are in accor- dance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, 1 () OJ L 40, 11.2.1989, p. 27. () OJL237,10.9.1994, p. 1. () OJL 61, 18.3.1995, p. 1. () OJ L 55,24.2.2001, p. 59. () O] () O ) O] L 339, 30.12.1996, p. 1. L 292, 28.10.2002, p. 1. 6 HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Atrticle 1 The Annex to Directive 96/77EC is amended as set out in the Annex to this Directive. Atticle 2 Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Direc- tive by 1 November 2004 at the latest. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made. Atticle 3 Products put on the market or labelled before 1 November 2004 which do not comply with this Directive may be marketed until stocks are exhausted. Atrticle 4 This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Atrticle 5 This Directive is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 27 October 2003. For the Commission David BYRNE Member of the Commission