Commission Regulation (EU) No 794/2012
of 5 September 2012
on transitional measures concerning the Union list of flavourings and source materials set out in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Whereas:
Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 lays down the type of flavourings and source materials for which an evaluation and approval is required.
Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 provides that, of the flavourings and source materials referred to in Article 9, only those included in the Union list may be placed on the market as such and used in or on foods under the conditions of use specified therein, where applicable.
Article 30 of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 specifies that Article 10 is to apply from 18 months after the date of application of the Union list.
It is therefore appropriate to fix that date of application of the Union list for the purposes of third paragraph of Article 30 of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008.
Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 flavouring substances not included in the Union list may be placed on the market as such and used in or on food until 18 months after the date of application of the Union list. Since flavouring substances are already on the market in the Member States, provision should be made to ensure that the transition to a Union authorisation procedure is smooth. To increase legal certainty, a transitional period should be provided also for food containing those flavouring substances.
In accordance with the objectives of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008, in order to enhance legal certainty and non-discrimination it is appropriate to adopt transitional measures to allow the time for evaluation and authorisation of those flavourings and source materials.
The date of application of Parts B to F of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008, concerning flavourings and source materials listed in Article 9(b) to (f) of that Regulation, should be postponed to allow the time for evaluation and authorisation of those flavourings and source materials.
The interested parties should submit applications for authorisations within a set time limit as regards flavourings and source materials listed in Article 9(b) to (f) of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 that are currently placed on the market.
Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 flavourings and source materials listed in Article 9(b) to (f) not included in the Union list may be placed on the market as such and used in or on food until 18 months after the date of application of the Union list. Since flavourings and source materials listed in Article 9(b) to (f) of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 are already on the market in the Member States, provision should be made to ensure that the transition to a Union authorisation procedure is smooth. To increase legal certainty, a transitional period should be provided also for food containing those flavourings and source materials.
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and neither the European Parliament nor the Council have opposed them,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
CHAPTER IFLAVOURING SUBSTANCES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 9(a) OF REGULATION (EC) No 1334/2008
Article 1Transitional measures for food containing flavouring substances
Foods containing flavouring substances, which are lawfully placed on the market or labelled prior to 27 September 2014, but which do not comply with Part A of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 may be marketed until their date of minimum durability or use-by date.
CHAPTER IIFLAVOURINGS AND SOURCE MATERIALS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 9(b) TO (f) OF REGULATION (EC) No 1334/2008
Article 2Date of application of Parts B to F of the Union list of flavourings and source materials
For the purposes of the third paragraph of Article 30 in conjunction with Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008, Parts B to F of the Union list of flavourings and source materials set out in Annex I to that Regulation shall apply from 27 September 2016.
Article 3Time limit for submissions
Interested parties shall submit applications for authorisation of flavourings and source materials referred to in Article 9(b) to (f) of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 placed on the market at the time of entry into force of this Regulation to the Commission in accordance with the Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008 at the latest by 27 September 2015.
Article 4Transitional measure for food containing flavourings and source materials referred to in Article 9(b) to (f) of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008
Foods containing flavourings and source materials referred to in Article 9(b) to (f) of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 which are lawfully placed on the market or labelled prior to 27 March 2018 but which do not comply with Parts B to F of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008, may be marketed until their date of minimum durability or use-by date.
CHAPTER IIIFINAL PROVISIONS
Article 5Amendments to Regulations (EEC) No 1601/91 and (EC) No 110/2008
For the purposes of the fourth paragraph of Article 30 of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008, concerning amendments to Regulations (EEC) No 1601/91 and (EC) No 110/2008, the date of application of the Union list of flavourings and source materials shall be 27 March 2013.
Article 6Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 5 September 2012.
For the Commission
The President
José Manuel Barroso