Foodlaw-Reading
Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
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FSA Consultation, 2 February 2024
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Consultation pack on applications for authorisations of four novel foods and three food additives, application for twenty-two food flavouring substances removals and proposal to set a limit for ethylene oxide in all food additives A copy of the consultation pack is available on this site (click on image). Provided under the Open Government Licence. The original document was accessed from: |
The consultation is open until the 29th March 2024. To respond to the consultation, see the link to on-line survey form provided at the end of the consultation page.
This consultation seeks stakeholders’ views, comments and feedback in relation to the four novel food and three food additive applications, which have been submitted for authorisation; an application to remove the authorisation for twenty-two food flavourings; and a proposal to set a limit for ethylene oxide in all food additives considered in this document.
Important
On 30 January 2024, a package of measures proposed by the UK Government was accepted to enable the return of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Further information on these measures can be found here in the UK Government Command Paper, Safeguarding the Union (Opens in a new window). A small number of references in this consultation may now be outdated but the substance of the consultation remains unchanged.
Who will this consultation be of most interest to?
A list of interested parties is included in Annex A of the consultation pack.
Consultation subject
This consultation concerns four novel food and three food additive applications that have been submitted for authorisation in Great Britain (GB) and an application to remove the authorisation of twenty-two food flavourings substances in GB.
Since 1 October 2023, the Windsor Framework’s new NI Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS) is in place. Goods moved to Northern Ireland under NIRMS can be produced to GB standards for public health and consumer protection.
This consultation also concerns the proposal to set a limit for ethylene oxide in all food additives.
In addition to this consultation, we have also published joint Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) safety assessments for the applications.
FSA/FSS Risk Management recommendations
Risk Management recommendations take into account the safety assessments (which represent the opinion of the FSA and FSS for each application) as well as potential impacts that would result from the authorisation of these novel foods and food additives and other legitimate factors that Ministers may want to consider before making a decision regarding these applications.
[To view FSA/FSS Risk Management recommendations on eight applications; Novel Foods, food additives and the removal of flavourings, see link on FSA web page]
FSA/FSS safety assessments
Applications in this consultation have undergone a FSA/FSS safety assessment, including full review of the applicants’ dossiers. The views of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) have been taken into account in the FSA/FSS safety assessment for the novel food applications. The views of the Joint Expert Group on Additives, Enzymes and other Regulated Products (AEJEG) have been taken into account in the FSA/FSS safety assessment for the food additive applications. The Committee on Toxicity (COT) also reviewed the AEJEG Committee Advice documents for the food additive applications, agreeing with the conclusions of the AEJEG. The views of the Committees are reflected in the published Safety Assessments which form the opinions of the FSA and FSS on these applications. A safety assessment is not required for an application to remove authorised substances.
[To view Risk Assessments, see links on FSA web page]
Purpose of the consultation
This consultation provides the opportunity for stakeholders’ views to be submitted on the authorisation of the novel foods and food additive applications; removal of authorisation of the flavouring substances; and setting a limit for ethylene oxide in all food additives. The FSA will take stakeholders’ feedback into account, to inform Ministers in England and Wales (with the Department of Health Permanent Secretary in Northern Ireland kept informed) before they make a decision.
We are seeking feedback on the proposed terms of authorisation in relation to the four novel food and three food additive applications, our assessment of the potential impacts detailed in the consultation pack, and any further evidence you may have on additional impacts that we should consider.
In relation to the application to remove the authorisation of twenty-two food flavouring substances and the proposal to set a limit for ethylene oxide in all food additives, we are seeking feedback of the potential impacts detailed in the consultation pack, and any further evidence you may have on additional impacts that we should consider.
A parallel consultation is being published by FSS to inform Ministers' decision in Scotland.
