Additives and Contaminants (incl. Flavourings, Extraction Solvents,

Enzymes and Ionising Radiation)30 March 2011

Overview

• In the list of Union legislation published before 1st January 2011 the acquis on food additives, contaminants etc. is listed in Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 12 of Title 4 – Food Safety Rules

• The acquis is listed as Basic Text(s) and Application Text(s)

• This presentation will start with the legal framework in Iceland and secondly focus on the implementation of the relevant EU legislation

Legal framework

• The legislation is EEA relevant• The legislation has been implemented, but not

updated for some issues due to the backlog in adopting JCD for incorporation of legislation

• The legislation is implemented according to the provisions of the Icelandic Food Act No 93/1995

• There is some backlog of EU legislation relevant to the EEA Agreement waiting to be incorporated into the Agreement or waiting to be implemented in Iceland

Additives – Chapter 2

• The previous EC legislation on food additives is still in force in Iceland

• Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008 on authorisation procedures for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings has not been incorporated into the EEA Agreement and consequently not implemented in Iceland

Additives – cont´d

• Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives has not yet been incorporated into the EEA Areement. Regulation amended by 238/2010

• The Commission is working on proposals for Annexes II and III of this Regulation and final versions will be presented for a possible vote at a Standing Committee meeting of 8 April 2011

• The Annex listing food additives in food categories is expected final in 2012

Additives – cont´d

• The application texts have been implemented, except for Regulation (EC) No 257/2010 on the re-evaluation of food additives, which has not been incorporated into the EEA Agreement

• Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 on addition of vitamins and minerals etc. has been implemented by Regulation (IS) No 327/2010

• Directives on purity criteria are implemented by Regulation (IS) No 285/2002

Food Enzymes – Chapter 3

• The previous EC legislation on food enzymes is still in force in Iceland

• Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008 on authorisation procedures for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings has not been incorporated into the EEA Agreement

• The same applies to Regulation (EC) No 1332/2008 on food enzymes

• The backlog is as much an EC problem as an EEA/EFTA problem regarding finalization of JCD

Extraction solvents – Chapter 4

• The previous EC legislation on extraction solvents is still in force in Iceland

• Directive 2009/32/EC is being translated and will be implemented in Iceland

• Recast of the legislation

Flavourings – Chapter 5

• The EC legislation on flavourings, both basic texts and application texts, has been implemented in Iceland, except for the following

• Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008 on authorisation procedures has not been incorporated into the EEA Agreement

• The same applies to Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 on flavourings

Contaminants – Chapter 10

• Basic text, Regulation (EEC) No 315/93 implemented by Regulation (IS) No 508/2005

• Application texts, Regulations (EC) No 401/2006, 1881/2006, 1882/2006 and 1883/2006, have been implemented

• Being translated, Regulations (EC) No 333/2007, 2008/47, 124/2009

• Amendments under translation, Regulations (EC) No 1126/2007 and 629/2008

Ionising radiation – Chapter 12Basic texts – Regulation (IS) No 341/2001

• Implements Directive 1999/2/EC on foods and food ingredients treated with ionising radiation and;

• Directive 1999/3, list of foods and food ingredients treated with ionising radiation

• Application text: Decision 2002/840/EC, approved facilities in third countries, implemented by Regulation (IS) 163/2003

• Implementation complete

Conclusions

• There are only minor outstanding issues, e.g. concerning translation of acts on contaminants and extraction solvents

• Some acts are waiting for incorporation into the EEA Agreement, e.g. the new and revised legislation on food additives, flavourings and food enzymes

Thanks !