Safety sweetened

Related tags European union European parliament

The European Parliament has cleared amendments to the sweetener
directive, but only after setting up a trail of conditions
including a closer monitoring of new sweeteners.

The European Parliament has cleared amendments to the sweetener directive, but only after setting up a trail of conditions including a closer monitoring of new sweeteners.

At the second reading the Parliament adopted a legislative resolution to bring two new products - salt of aspartame-acesulfame and sucralose - within the scope of the 1994 directive on the use of sweeteners.

However, a safety review is on the cards. The Parliament succeeded in obliging the Commission to report to Parliament on progress made in the re-evaluations of all additives, in particular salt of aspartame-acesulfame and sucralose, within two years of the directive's entry into force, but not before.

'Although the Scientific Committee on Food consulted by the Commission has given aspartame the green light, according to some scientific opinion it can cause brain tumours.

The other component, acesulfame, could be carcinogenic, say some sources. And some scientists believe there are even more problems in any combination of the two sweeteners. By contrast, there are at present few indications that sucralose may be harmful,'​ said the Parliament in a statement last week.

In addition, Parliament refused to allow the Commission the right, which it is demanding, to decide whether a substance is a sweetener or not.

'MEPs believe this right should only be granted at a later stage, when the entire framework legislation has been amended,'​ added the MEPs in a recent statement.

The tough stance continued with MEPs suggesting that products not up to the requirements of the legislation 'should not remain on the market more than 24 months after the legislation enters into force.' In contrast, the European Council, made up of ministers from the EU member states, was prepared to allow sales to continue until stocks run out.

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