li temenda d-Direttiva 94/54/KE fir-rigward ta'l-ittikkettjar ta'ċertu ikel li jkun jinsab fih aċidu glycyrrhizinic u l-melħ ta'l-ammonja tiegħu

amending Directive 94/54/EC as regards the labelling of certain foods containing glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt

(2) L-iskop ta'din id-Direttiva hu biex jissupplimenta dik il-lista fir-rigward ta'ċerti affarijiet ta'l-ikel li jkun jinsab fihom aċidu glycyrrhizinic u l-melħ ta'l-ammonja tiegħu.

(2) The purpose of this Directive is to supplement that list with regard to certain foods containing glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt.

(4) Il-Kumitat Xjentifiku dwar l-Ikel, fl-opinjoni tiegħu ta'l-4 ta'April 2003 dwar l-aċidu glycyrrhizinic u l-melħ ta'l-ammonja tiegħu, ikkonkluda li limitu massimu għal inġestjoni regolari ta'100 mg/ġurnata jipprovdi livell suffiċjenti ta'protezzjoni għall-maġġuranza tal-popolazzjoni, konsum 'il fuq minn dan il-livell jista'jikkawża ipertensjoni. Madankollu il-Kumitat innota li fil-popolazzjoni tal-bnedmin hemm sottogruppi għal liema dan il-limitu massimu jista'ma joffrix protezzjoni suffiċjenti. Dawn is-sottogruppi jinkludu nies b'kondizzjonijiet mediċi relatati ma'omostasi mfixxkla ta'l-ilma u ta'l-elettroliti.

(4) The Scientific Committee on Food, in its opinion of 4 April 2003 on glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt, concluded that an upper limit for regular ingestion of 100 mg/day provides a sufficient level of protection for the majority of the population, consumption above this level may give rise to hypertension. However the Committee noted that within the human population there are subgroups for which this upper limit might not offer sufficient protection. These subgroups comprise people with medical conditions related to disturbed water-and electrolyte homeostasis.

(5) Dawn it-tisjibiet jagħmlu meħtieġ il-proviżjoni ta'tikkettjar li jagħti lill-konsumaturi informazzjoni ċara dwar il-preżenza ta'l-aċidu glycyrrhizinic jew il-melħ ta'l-ammonja tiegħu fil-ħelu u x-xorb. Fil-każ ta'kontenuti għoljin ta'l-aċidu glycyrrhizinic jew tal-melħ ta'l-ammonja tiegħu f'dawn il-prodotti, il-konsumaturi, u partikolarment dawk li jsofru minn ipertensjoni, għandhom 'il fuq minn dan jiġu informati li konsum eċċessiv għandu jiġi evitat. Biex tkun assigurata fehma tajba ta'din l-informazzjoni mil-konsumaturi, it-terminu magħruf sew "estratti ta'l-għud is-sus" għandu preferibbilment jiġi wżat.

(5) These findings make it necessary to provide labelling which gives the consumers clear information on the presence of glycyrrhizinic acid or its ammonium salt in confectionery and beverages. In the case of high contents of glycyrrhizinic acid or its ammonium salt in these products, the consumers, and in particular those suffering from hypertension, should in addition be informed that excessive intake should be avoided. To ensure a good understanding of these information by the consumers, the well known term "liquorice extracts" should be preferably used.

(3) L-aċidu glycyrrhizinic iseħħ b'mod naturali fil-pjanta ta'għud is-sus Glycyrrhiza glabra filwaqt li l-melħ ta'l-ammonja tiegħu hu ffabbrikat minn estratti mill-ilma tal-pjanta ta'għud is-sus Glycyrrhiza glabra. L-aċidu glycyrrhizinic u l-melħ ta'l-ammonja tiegħu huma inklużi fir-reġistru Komunitarju ta'sostanzi li jagħtu togħma stabbiliti mid-Deċiżjoni tal-Kummissjoni 1999/217/KE tat-23 ta'Frar 1999 li tadotta reġistru ta'sostanzi li jagħtu togħma użati fi jew fuq affarijiet ta'l-ikel magħmul in applikazzjoni tar-Regolament (KE) Nru 2232/96 tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill tat-28 ta'Ottubru 1996 [3]. Esposizzjoni għall-aċidu glycyrrhizinic u l-melħ ta'l-ammonja tiegħu jseħħ l-aktar permezz tal-konsum ta'ħelu ta'l-għud is-sus, inkluż chewing gum, tè tal-ħxejjex u xorb ieħor.

(3) Glycyrrhizinic acid naturally occurs in the liquorice plant Glycyrrhiza glabra while its ammonium salt is manufactured from aqueous extracts of liquorice plant Glycyrrhiza glabra. Glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt are included in the Community register of 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 European Parliament and of the Council of 28 October 1996(3). Exposure to glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt occur mostly via consumption of liquorice confectionery, including chewing gum, herbal teas and other beverages.