31980H1089

COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION of 11 November 1980 to the Member States concerning tests relating to the safety evaluation of food additives (80/1089/EEC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community and in particular Article 155 thereof,

Whereas by Decision 74/234/EEC (1) the Commission instituted a Scientific Committee for Food;

Whereas the Scientific Committee for Food in its opinion of 22 February 1980 (2) elaborated guidelines for the safety assessment of food additives to indicate the general principles applied by the Committee in advising on health questions associated with their approval;

Whereas in the normal course of events the Commission consults the Committee in drawing up legislation on food additives;

Whereas the Commission endorses the Committee's recommendations on guidelines for the safety assessment of food additives without prejudice to recommendations which might be formulated by the Commission for chemical substances having other uses;

Whereas therefore the Commission requires that in as far as it is possible information supporting the inclusion of food additives in a Community list should include toxicological and technological data developed in accordance with these guidelines;

Whereas in the interests of harmonization, and to avoid wastage of resources, it is desirable that Member States align their national requirements on the subject;

Whereas tests designed to evaluate the quality and safety of food additives must be constantly adapted to take account of the latest scientific and technical knowledge, and the development of a Community approach to the methodology used in the testing of chemical substances,

RECOMMENDS TO THE MEMBER STATES TO:

1. Comply with the principles and methodology described in the Guidelines for the Assessment of Food Additives established by the Scientific Committee for Food on 22 February 1980 for the conduct of tests and in the presentation of results on food additives suggested for inclusion in a Community list.

2. Incorporate the provisions of those guidelines in those of their national approval requirements for food additives which are not yet the subject of Community legislation.

Done at Brussels, 11 November 1980.

For the Commission

Étienne DAVIGNON

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ No L 136, 20.5.1974, p. 1. (2) Reports of the Scientific Committee for Food, 10th series (1980).