WRITTEN QUESTION P-3550/02

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 December 2002)

Subject: Monosodium glutamate E621

Could the Commission confirm that the flavouring monosodium glutamate E621 is not a natural flavouring under the classification system established for flavourings under EU law? In that case, is it not misleading for consumers and contrary to Article 2(i) of European Parliament and Council Directive 2000/13/EC(1) for products containing E621 to be labelled as containing no artificial flavourings?

(1) OJ L 109, 6.5.2000, p. 29.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(9 January 2003)

E 621 Monosodium glutamate is authorised for use in certain foodstuffs as a food additive by Directive 95/2/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 20 February 1995 on food additives other than colours and sweeteners(1). Monosodium glutamate is a flavour enhancer. Flavour enhancers are defined as follows in Directive 95/2/EC, Article 1(l): Flavour enhancers are substances which enhance the existing taste and/or odour of a foodstuff. Flavour enhancers must be labelled on the foodstuffs by their category and specific name or E-number.

Monosodium glutamate is not listed in the register of chemically defined flavouring substances laid down by Commission Decision 1999/217/EC of 23 February 1999 adopting a register of flavouring substances used in or on foodstuffs drawn up in application of Regulation (EC) No 2232/96 of the Parliament and of the Council of 28 October 1996(2), as last amended by Commission Decision 2002/113/EC of 23 January 2002(3), and is therefore not a flavouring substance.

The presence of monosodium glutamate does therefore not preclude the label to indicate the absence of artificial flavourings.

All the cited legislation is available from the web site of Directorate General Health and Consumer Protection on additives and flavourings: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sfp/addit_flavor/index_en.html.

(1) OJ L 61, 18.3.1995.

(2) OJ L 84, 27.3.1999.

(3) OJ L 49, 20.2.2002.