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Brussels, 17 may 1995
No other fats than cocoa butter in chocolate
EURO COOP supports the maintaining of the existing provision in Directive 731241/EEC for the production of chocolate exclusively from cocoa butter.
During the revision of the above Directive, the European Commission has proposed that the use of up to 5% of other vegetable fats than cocoa butter be permitted.
In the interest of the consumer, it is EURO COOP's view that a product which is called "chocolate" should not contain a mixture of other vegetable fats; such inclusion would give rise to various problems.
- A problem of information and consequently of labelling: it is known from experience that at first glance the labelling would mislead consumers, at least in the majority of the Member States which until now could be confident that chocolate did not consist of a mixture of any kind of vegetable fats.
- A problem of quality: the quality of chocolate which also contains other vegetable fats of any quality is not comparable with that made with 100% cocoa butter.
- It would be difficult, if not impossible, to control the addition of other types, quantities and qualities of vegetable fats.
- Through the inevitable distortion of competition, the better quality would be forced off the market by the inferior quality and the consumers in the internal market would thus be presented with lower quality than before.
At the beginning of the 70's, the successful intervention of EURO COOP resulted in Directive 731241/EEC only authorising the use of cocoa butter in the production of chocolate. EURO COOP now pleads in favour of this regulation being extended to the entire Union. In this way, the other 20% of EU consumers could also benefit, where the present Directive is not effective; since it is not sufficient for a product to be safe. In the interest of the consumer, EURO COOP also opposes a lowering of quality in the internal market.
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