FSA News Item, 13 January 2004

NOVEL FOODS - Application for new food supplement

The Agency has received an application to approve clinoptilolite as a food supplement.

Before any new food product can be introduced on the European market it must be rigorously assessed for safety. In the UK the assessment of novel foods is carried out by an independent committee of scientists appointed by the Food Standards Agency named the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP).
Euremica Environmental Ltd proposes to market clinoptilolite as a food supplement in capsule form.

Clinoptilolite is a naturally occurring zeolite, formed by the conversion of glassy material to crystalline material of volcanic ash in lake and marine waters millions of years ago. It is currently used for purifying drinking water and as an animal feed additive. Approval is sought under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients.

An initial discussion of this application by the ACNFP will take place at the Committee's meeting on 4 February 2004. Any comments on this application should be sent to the ACNFP Secretariat by 2 February 2004 and will be passed to the Committee before it finalises its opinion on this novel food ingredient.