Date: 2018-03-15Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 144/2016 of 8 July 2016 amending Annex II (Technical regulations, standards, testing and certification) to the EEA Agreement [2018/366]
**Policy Summary: EEA Joint Committee Decision No. 144/2016**
This decision, enacted by the EEA Joint Committee on July 8, 2016, amends Annex II (Technical regulations, standards, testing and certification) to the EEA Agreement. The amendment incorporates Commission Regulations (EU) 2016/371 and 2016/372 into the EEA Agreement. Regulation (EU) 2016/371 refuses to authorize certain health claims made on foods, excluding those related to disease risk reduction and children's development and health (OJ L 70, 16.3.2016, p. 12). Regulation (EU) 2016/372 refuses to authorize a health claim made on foods related to the reduction of disease risk (OJ L 70, 16.3.2016, p. 16). This Decision does not apply to Liechtenstein due to the extension of the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products to Liechtenstein. The decision entered into force on July 9, 2016, following notifications under Article 103(1) of the EEA Agreement. The authentic Icelandic and Norwegian language texts of Regulations (EU) 2016/371 and EU 2016/372 will be published in the EEA Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union. The decision will be published in the EEA Section of, and in the EEA Supplement to, the Official Journal of the European Union.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
EEA Joint Committee: The joint committee responsible for the management of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA).
EEA Agreement: The Agreement on the European Economic Area, which extends the EU's single market to Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
Commission Regulation EU 2016/371: A European Union regulation refusing to authorise certain health claims made on foods, other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children’s development and health.
Commission Regulation EU 2016/372: A European Union regulation refusing to authorise a health claim made on foods and referring to the reduction of disease risk.
Liechtenstein: A small Alpine country landlocked by Switzerland and Austria. Special conditions apply to it under the EEA Agreement.
Swiss Confederation: Refers to Switzerland, which has a separate agreement with the European Community on trade in agricultural products.
Brussels: The capital of Belgium, where the decision was made.
L 73/16 EN Official Journal of the European Union 15.3.2018
DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE
No 144/2016
of 8 July 2016
amending Annex II (Technical regulations, standards, testing and certification) to the EEA Agreement
[2018/366]
THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE,
Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (‘the EEA Agreement’), and in particular Article 98
thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/371 of 15 March 2016 refusing to authorise certain health claims made on
foods, other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children’s development and health (1) is to be
incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
(2) Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/372 of 15 March 2016 refusing to authorise a health claim made on foods and
referring to the reduction of disease risk (2) is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
(3) This Decision concerns legislation regarding foodstuffs. Legislation regarding foodstuffs shall not apply to
Liechtenstein as long as the application of the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss
Confederation on trade in agricultural products is extended to Liechtenstein, as specified in the introduction to
Chapter XII of Annex II to the EEA Agreement. This Decision is therefore not to apply to Liechtenstein.
(4) Annex II to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The following points are inserted after point 109 (Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/2314) of Chapter XII of Annex II to
the EEA Agreement:
‘110. 32016 R 0371: Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/371 of 15 March 2016 refusing to authorise certain health
claims made on foods, other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children’s development
and health (OJ L 70, 16.3.2016, p. 12).
111. 32016 R 0372: Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/372 of 15 March 2016 refusing to authorise a health claim
made on foods and referring to the reduction of disease risk (OJ L 70, 16.3.2016, p. 16).’
Article 2
The texts of Regulations (EU) 2016/371 and (EU) 2016/372 in the Icelandic and Norwegian languages, to be published in
the EEA Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union, shall be authentic.
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on 9 July 2016, provided that all the notifications under Article 103(1) of the EEA
Agreement have been made (*).
(1) OJ L 70, 16.3.2016, p. 12.
(2) OJ L 70, 16.3.2016, p. 16.
(*) No constitutional requirements indicated.15.3.2018 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 73/17
Article 4
This Decision shall be published in the EEA Section of, and in the EEA Supplement to, the Official Journal of the European
Union.
Done at Brussels, 8 July 2016.
For the EEA Joint Committee
The President
Bergdís ELLERTSDÓTTIR