§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement outlining the procedures which Her Majesty's Government will be subject to in raising at the European Council of Ministers the issue of the exclusion of snack foods from the directive on sweeteners; and when the meeting will take place;
(2) what is the timetable of further procedures which the draft directive on sweeteners in food will undergo before coming into effect.
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§ Mr. MacleanThe proposed directive on the use of sweeteners in foods is subject to the procedure for consultation with the European Parliament laid down in the Single European Act, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Following the European Parliament's first opinion, the Commission is now engaged in preparing a revised proposal for the Council. The Council will then seek to adopt a common position by qualified majority, after which the Parliament will have three months to reconsider it. Depending on the outcome of the Parliament's consideration, the Council may adopt the proposal, or the Commission may again amend it within one month. The Council must then act within three months or the proposal lapses. No more precise timetable can be given.