. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/EEC/110
8 February 2001
(01-0612)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  European Commission, General Directorate for Health and Consumer
Protection
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).   "Food" (or "foodstuff") means any substance or product, whether processed,
partially processed or unprocessed, intended to be, or expected to be ingested by humans.  It
includes drink, chewing gum and any substance intentionally incorporated into the food
during its manufacture, preparation or treatment.  It includes water, without prejudice to the
requirements of Directives 80/778/EEC and 98/83/EC.  It shall not include: (a) feed;
(b) live animals unless they are prepared, p ackaged and/or served for human consumption;
(c) plants prior to harvesting;  (d) medicinal products;  (e) cosmetics;  (f) tobacco and
tobacco products;  (g) narcotic or psychotropic substances within the meaning of the United
Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 and the United Nations Convention on
Psychotropic Substances, 1971  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent
relevant or practicable:  EC member States and all countries importing  and exporting
food to the European Communities
4.Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Proposal for a Regulation of the
European Parliament and of the Council laying down the general principles andrequirements of food law, establishing the European Food Authority, and laying down
procedures in matters of food [Com (2000)716] (84 pages).  The Commission expects
comments on:
• Title II General Food Law;  and
• Title IV Rapid Alert System, Crisis Management and Emergency Situations.
5. Description of content:   This proposal establishes the common principles underlying food
law, defines common terms and creates a general framework for food law.  It includes the
following main provisions :
• Food law must provide a high level of health protection;
• The effective functioning of the internal market in safe food and feed should be
assured;
• Clear definitions to increase consistency and legal security including the definition of
food;
• Food law should be based on high quality, transparent independent scientific advice
following the three interconnected components of risk analysis: risk assessment, risk
management and risk communication;G/SPS/N/EEC/110
Page 2
• The use of the precautionary principle to develop provisional measures where an
unacceptable level of risk to health has been identified but further scientific data is
required to arrive at a comprehensive assessment of risk to health;
• Rights of consumers not to be misled and to have access to accurate information;
• Traceability of food, feed, ingredients and food-producing animals;
• Primary responsibility for safe food and feed rests with businesses;
• Member States are responsible for the enforcement of food law;
• An obligation to ensure that only safe food and feed are placed on the market;
• Recognition of the Community’s internationa l obligations particularly in relation to
trade;
• Transparency of the development of food law and the access to information in this
regard.
• Responsibilities of feed businesses where their products or activities may have an
adverse impact on food safety.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [  X ] plant protection,
[ X ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests   To promote a free market and the free circulation of goods
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [    ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  Where these exist, the drafts are in conformity
with the Codex Alimentarius.
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  European
Commission Document COM(2000)716 (Available in all EC languages)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  September 2001
10. Proposed date of entry into force : October 2001
11. Final date for comments:  30 March 2001
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [  X ] EC enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:           
12. Texts available from: [    ] National notification authority, [  X ] EC enquiry point or
address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
The Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down
the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food
Authority, and laying down procedures in matters of food [Com(2000)716] is available in
all EC languages in EUR-Lex [ http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/index.html ], under
"Legislation under preparation" and "list of available Commission proposals"
English text:  http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/pdf/2000/en_500PC0716.pdf
French  text:  http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/fr/com/pdf/2000/fr_500PC0716.pdf
Spanish text:  http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/es/com/pdf/2000/es_500PC0716.pdf