Committee Summary Record, 23 June 2008
The following is an extract from the summary record of the meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health: Section on General Food Law held on 23 June 2008
Following two applications for the use of the abovementioned substances as novel foods, two opinions were published by EFSA in May 2008.
A first exchange of views took place on how to proceed towards further authorisation of lycopene as a food ingredient to be added to certain foodstuffs. EFSA, taking into account intake from the various sources of lycopene, came to the conclusion that while, for the average user, consumption of lycopene will be below the ADI (0.5 mg/kg bw/day), that for some users of lycopene products the intake of lycopene may exceed the ADI.
In the light of these opinions, delegations were invited to express their view as to whether and which risk management measures should be considered, in order to limit the risk that users of products containing lycopene will exceed an intake of 0.5 mg/kg bw/day (ADI).
The Commission pointed out that, should such risk management measures be laid down, they should be the same for both applications. They should also be applicable to the already authorised lycopene from Blakeslea trispora and to other further applications concerning 'lycopene ingredients' under the Novel Food Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 258/97).
Only a few delegations were able to express a position and most of them needed time to consider the issue. Therefore it was agreed that Member States should provide written comments/suggestions to the Commission by mid July. A more detailed discussion is foreseen for the next meeting of the Working Group on Novel Foods before any measures are presented again to the Committee.