WRITTEN QUESTION E-1150/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority.
20. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 53 E/85 2. What action is the Commission taking to speed up the evaluation procedures for pesticides in views of the continuing use of unsafe pesticides when newer and possibly safer products are available? (2001/C 53 E/108) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1150/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety. The Commission says the procedure for authorising the marketing of novel foods should be clarified and made more transparent. Exemptions need to be reviewed. The Commission is to adopt an implementing regulation to clarify the procedures of the novel food regulation. It will also present a propoisal to improve that regulation in accordance with the revised regulatory framework of directive 90/220/EEC. The labelling provisions for novel foods also need to be completed and harmonised. 1. In what respect will the authorisation process for novel foods change? 2. Will more products come within the scope of the regulation? If so, which ones? 3. What will be the role of the Food Authority in assessing novel foods? 4. In future will identical ingredients from GMOs appear on the label? (2001/C 53 E/109) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1151/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety. The Commission says the rules for food additives and flavourings need to be amended in several respects. Firstly, the Commission wants the power to maintain the EU lists of authorised food additives and clarification of the status of enzymes. Secondly, the lists of colouring matters, sweeteners and other additives need to be updated. Thirdly, the purity criteria for colouring matters, sweeteners and other additives need to be amended. Appropriate purity criteria for food additives made from novel sources have to be laid down. The Commission is to publish a report on the intake of food additives. Research is needed into the toxicological effects of substances naturally present in flavourings. The Commission is to update the register of flavouring substances and lay down a list of additives authorised for used in flavourings. 1. Why does the Commission no longer wish to apply the codecision procedure for sweeteners, colouring matters and other additives? Does this not detract from the democratic right of the European Parliament to take decisions? 2. In what respect does the Commission wish to change the status of enzymes? 3. Will there be a change in the requirements for permitted additives? Will the Commission lay down other purity criteria for additives obtained from novel sources?