51994AC0230

Opinion on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending for the second time Council Directive 88/344, of 13 June 1988, on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to extraction solvents used in the production of foodstuffs and food ingredients (1) (94/C 133/06)

On 18 January 1994 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 100a of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the abovementioned proposal.

The Section for Protection of the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Affairs, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 1 February 1994. The Rapporteur was Mr Gardner.

At its 313th Plenary Session (meeting of 23 February 1994), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following Opinion unanimously.

In its previous Opinion (2) the Committee:

- regretted that insufficient tests had been done on cyclohexane;

- asked for further tests to be completed;

- asked for cyclohexane to be permitted as an extraction solvent as and when the Scientific Committee for Food (SCF) was satisfied with its safety-in-use.

The advice of the Committee has now been heeded by all the parties involved.

The Committee therefore approves the proposal, giving cyclohexane temporary approval and wants the further tests required by the SCF to be carried out as soon as possible.

Done at Brussels, 23 February 1994.

The Chairman

of the Economic and Social Committee

Susanne TIEMANN

(1) OJ No C 15, 18. 1. 1994, p. 17.

(2) OJ No C 223, 31. 8. 1992.