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(1), and in particular Article 3(3)(a) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Directive 96/77/EC of 2 December 1996 laying down specific purity criteria on food additives other than colours and sweeteners(2) has been substantially amended several times(3). In the interests of clarity and rationality the said Directive should be codified.
(2) It is necessary to establish purity criteria for all additives other than colours and sweeteners mentioned in European Parliament and Council Directive 95/2/EC of 20 February 1995 on food additives other than colours and sweeteners(4).
(3) 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).
(4) Food additives prepared by production methods or starting materials significantly different from those evaluated by the Scientific Committee for Food or different from those mentioned in this Directive should be submitted for safety evaluation by the European Food Safety Authority with emphasis on the purity criteria.
(5) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.
(6) This Directive should be without prejudice to the obligations of the Member States relating to the time-limits for transposition into national law of the Directives set out in Annex II, part B,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
See Annex II, part A.