16. COCOA AND CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS (6582/98)
Letter from the Baroness Hayman, Minister
of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to Lord
Tordoff, Chairman of the Committee
I understand my predecessor, Jeff Rooker, wrote
to you updating your Committee on subsequent developments on the
above proposal on 8 June[6]
this year. I am now writing to you along similar lines.
In the letter of 8 June, Jeff Rooker explained
that the German Presidency hoped to reach agreement on a Common
Position at the June Internal Market Council. Despite the Presidency's
aspirations, a Common Position was not reached. Although a qualified
majority of Member States could agree the compromise text, the
Commission maintained a reservation in connection with the comitology
procedure to amend the Directive. Agreement on this sensitive
matter was reached between the Commission ad the Council in late
summer.
The latest Presidency compromise proposal (9947/99)
meets the requirements expressed by the European Parliament with
regard to the restriction on vegetable fats other than cocoa butter
and the question of double labelling. The compromise also reconciles
the technological needs of industry in this sector. As a result,
a Common Position was agreed at the Internal Market Council on
28 October.
23 November 1999
6 Printed in Correspondence with Ministers 17th
Report, Session 1998-99, HL Paper 94, p 60. Back
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