THE EUROPEAN INTERNAL FAT SPREAD MARKET - CONTROL AND TRADE FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF THE EC COMMISSION

The fat spread market within the EC is characterized by a large produc t variety. Apart from the traditional products, butter and margarine, the mixed fats (milkfat + non-milkfat), as well as products with reduc ed fat content are increasing in importance in the last years. The exp ected partial displacement of butter by imitation products (mixed fats ) has, so far, no yet taken place in most of the member states. At the EC level a number of directives and regulations are of relevance for the fat spread sector: fat spread reg. (planned), labelling directive, protection of designation reg., nutritional labelling directive, dire ctive concerning advertising statements (planned). The actually valid provisions concerning nutritional labelling do not meet the present le vel of scientific knowledge. An adjustment appears necessary in order to avoid misinformation of the consumers. In the fat spread field ther e exist a great number of analytical control problems, such as, e.g., detection of foreign fat in milkfat, detection of fat fractionation, d etermination of the milkfat proportion in mixed fats, detection of ani mal fats in vegetable fats or detection of fat substitutes. These and other analytical problems are discussed against the background of the currently applicable legal provisions and those to be expected in futu re.