No L 40/34 Official Journal of the European Communities 11.2. 89 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to quick-frozen foodstuffs for human consumption (89/108/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100a thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, In cooperation . with the European Parliament (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2), Whereas the. manufacture of and trade in quick-frozen foodstuffs intended for human consumption (hereinafter referred to as ‘quick-frozen foodstuffs’) are assuming increasing importance in the Community; Whereas the differences between national laws relating to quick-frozen foodstuffs hamper the free movement thereof; whereas they may create unequal conditions of competition and therefore have a direct effect on the establishment and functioning of the common market; Whereas it is therefore necessary to approximate these laws; Whereas to that end the Community rules must be given the widest possible scope, extending to all quick-frozen foodstuffs intended for human consumption and including not only products intended for supply without further processing to the ultimate consumer-and to restaurants, hospitals, canteens and to other similar mass caterers, but also products having to be further processed or prepared; Whereas, however, these rules need not apply to products not offered for sale as quick-frozen foodstuffs; Whereas it is in any case appropriate to lay down the general principles which any quick-frozen foodstuffs must satisfy; Whereas at a later stage special provisions over and above the general principles may, where necessary, be adopted for certain-categories of quick-frozen foodstuffs, in accordance with the procedure applicable to each of these categories; (1) O] No C 175, 15. 7. 1985, p. 296 and O] No C 12, 16. 1. 1989. (2) O] No C 104, 25. 4. 1985, p. 17. Whereas the purpose of quick-freezing is to preserve the intrinsic characteristics of foodstuffs by a process of rapid freezing; whereas it is necessary to attain a temperature of —18 °C or lower at all points in the product; Whereas at — 18 °C all microbiological activity likely to impair the quality of a foodstuff is suspended; whereas it is therefore necessary to maintain at least that temperature, subject :to a certain technically inevitable tolerance, during the storage and distribution of quick-frozen foodstuffs before . their sale to the ultimate consumer; Whereas for technical reasons certain temperature increases are inevitable and may therefore be tolerated provided they do not harm the quality of the products, which may be ensured by complying with good storage and distribution practice, taking account in particular of the proper level of stock rotation; Whereas the performance of certain technical equipment at present in use for the local distribution of quick-frozen foodstuffs is not capable .of ensuring in every case full compliance with the temperature limits imposed in this Directive, and it is therefore necessary to provide for a transitional system allowing for existing material to be used for its normal lifetime; - Whereas this Directive need merely state the objectives to be . attained as regards both the equipment used for the quick-freezing process and the temperatures to be observed in the storage, handling, transport and distribution installations and equipment; Whereas it is incumbent upon Member States to ensure by means of official checks that the equipment used is capable of meeting these objectives; Whereas such. checks render superfluous any system of official certification for trade purposes; Whereas it is desirable to provide for the possibility of using cryogenic fluids in direct contact with quick-frozen foodstuffs; whereas therefore these fluids must be sufficiently inert not to impart to the foodstuffs any constituents in quantities liable to constitute a hazard to human health, or to