FSA News Item, 8 July 2003

NOVEL FOODS - Noni juice application

The Agency has received an application from Neways Inc. for an opinion on the equivalence of noni juice (from the fruit of Morinda citrifolia L), grown in Hawaii. The application is made under Article 5 of EC Regulation 258/97.

Noni juice comes from the fruit commonly known as 'noni.' But it's also known as 'Indian mulberry' and 'nonu.' It is believed to have originated in Southeast Asia and to have been distributed subsequently by ancient voyagers or other means into the Pacific islands, including Tahiti and Hawaii. The plant is also found in India, Africa and the West Indies (International Noni Communication Council). It resembles a small evergreen shrub or tree that grows from three to six metres. Its fruit are green until maturity, when they rapidly turn to a light yellow and then a translucent white.

Background

An application for noni juice (juice of the fruit of Morinda citrifolia L), made under the Novel Foods Regulation (EC) 258/97 was approved on the 5 June 2003.

This approval applies to the applicant company only and regulation (EC) 258/97 makes provision for novel foods or ingredients that are substantially equivalent to an existing product to be placed on the market once the applicant has informed the Commission.

In all cases to date, the Commission has required that the applicant first obtain an opinion on equivalence from a Member State. Neways Inc are requesting such an opinion from the UK.
An initial discussion of this application by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) will take place at the Committee's meeting on 16 July 2003.

Any comments on this request for an opinion application should be sent to the ACNFP Secretariat by 30 July 2003 and will be passed to the Committee before it finalises its opinion on this novel food.

This version does not contain commercially confidential information.