Directive (EU) 2015/2203 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to caseins and caseinates intended for human consumption

What it is

to replace Directive 83/417/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to certain lactoproteins (caseins and caseinates) intended for human consumption, in the new legal context created by the Lisbon Treaty. PROPOSED ACT: Directive of the European Parliament and the Council. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council. BACKGROUND: Council Directive 83/417/EEC provides for the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to certain lactoproteins (caseins and caseinates) intended for human consumption. The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted the report by Giovanni LA VIA (EPP, IT) on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to caseins and caseinates intended for human consumption and repealing Council Directive 83/417/EEC. The committee recommended that the European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the Commission proposal. The amendments seek in particular to: recall that under Regulation No 1169/20116 of the European Parliament and of the Council, sufficient information is to be provided in business to business relations in order to ensure the presence and accuracy of food information for the final consumer; update the definition of ‘caseine’ , a technical update that will bring the legislation in line with Codex Standard N290 for edible casein by using the same definitions (International food standards as defined by the FAO and WHO); propose that the power to adopt delegated acts in order to adapt the Annexes to international standards and technical progress should not be conferred on the Commission for an unlimited period of time, but rather for 5 years . In order for the co-legislators to decide whether to extend the delegation of powers, the Commission shall draw up a report in this regard at the latest 9 months before the end of the 5-year period; propose to set an ambitious yet realistic date for the implementation of this Directive in the Member States (six months after the entry into force of this Directive instead of 31 March). To conclude, Members suggested a technical amendment in order to ensure that the Directive is perfectly aligned to the Codex Alimentarius as well as an amendment aiming to calculate the milk protein content on the basis of the absolute weight of the product (instead of on the basis of the dried extract). The European Parliament adopted by 642 votes to 54, with 9 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to caseins and caseinates intended for human consumption and repealing Council Directive 83/417/EEC. The European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure amended the Commission proposal as follows: Objectives of the Directive : the Directive seeks to facilitate, through…

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