DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE

No 71/98

of 31 July 1998

amending Annex II (Technical regulations, standards, testing and certification) to the EEA Agreement

THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, as adjusted by the Protocol Adjusting the Agreement on the European Economic Area, hereinafter referred to as "the Agreement", and in particular Article 98 thereof,

Whereas Annex II to the Agreement was amended by Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 58/98 of 4 July 1998(1);

Whereas Commission Directive 96/77/EC of 2 December 1996 laying down specific purity criteria on food additives other than colours and sweeteners(2) is to be incorporated into the Agreement,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The following indent shall be added in point 46 (Council Directive 89/107/EEC) in Chapter XII of Annex II to the Agreement: "- 396 L 0077: Commission Directive 96/77/EC of 2 December 1996 (OJ L 339, 30.12.1996, p. 1)."

Article 2

The texts of point 3 (Council Directive 65/66/EEC) and of point 17 (Council Directive 78/664/EEC) in Chapter XII of Annex II to the Agreement shall be deleted.

Article 3

The texts of Directive 96/77/EC in the Icelandic and Norwegian languages, which are annexed to the respective language versions of this Decision, are authentic.

Article 4

This Decision shall enter into force on 1 August 1998, provided that all the notifications under Article 103(1) of the Agreement have been made to the EEA Joint Committee.

Article 5

This Decision shall be published in the EEA section of, and in the EEA Supplement to, the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Done at Brussels, 31 July 1998.

For the EEA Joint Committee

The President

N. v. LIECHTENSTEIN

(1) OJ L 100, 15.4.1999, p. 42.

(2) OJ L 339, 30.12.1996, p. 1.