On 2 March 2011 the company Morinaga Milk Industry Co. Ltd made a request to the competent authorities of Ireland to place bovine lactoferrin on the market as novel food ingredient. Bovine lactoferrin is an iron binding protein from milk to be added to foods.

On 22 June 2011 the competent food assessment body of Ireland issued its initial assessment report. In this report they recommended that instead of carrying out an initial assessment an additional assessment was required, because another application concerning bovine lactoferrin was already referred to EFSA.

The Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to all Member States on 20 July 2011.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was consulted on 22 August 2011.

On 28 June 2012 in their ‘Scientific opinion on bovine lactoferrin’ EFSA came to the conclusion that bovine lactoferrin is safe under the proposed uses and use levels.

On 27 April 2012 in another ‘Scientific opinion on bovine lactoferrin’ EFSA already came to the conclusion that lactoferrin was safe under the proposed uses and use levels. Therefore it appears appropriate to authorise the same uses for both applications.

Bovine lactoferrin complies with the criteria laid down in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,