THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients, and in particular Article 7 thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
On 4 May 2012, the company Lallemand SAS made a request to the competent authorities of the United Kingdom to place UV-treated baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on the market as a novel food ingredient. UV-treated baker's yeast is intended to be used during the production of yeast-leavened bread, rolls and fine bakery wares and in food supplements.
(2)
On 31 August 2012, the competent food assessment body of the United Kingdom issued its initial assessment report. In that report it came to the conclusion that UV-treated baker's yeast meets the criteria for novel food set out in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.
(3)
On 11 September 2012, the Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to the other Member States.
(4)
Reasoned objections were raised within the 60-day period laid down in the first subparagraph of Article 6(4) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.
(5)
On 14 April 2013, the Commission consulted the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) asking it to carry out an additional assessment for UV-treated baker's yeast as novel food ingredient in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 258/97.
(6)
On 12 December 2013, in its ‘Scientific Opinion on the safety of vitamin D-enriched UV-treated baker's yeast’, EFSA concluded that UV-treated baker's yeast exhibiting an enhanced content of vitamin D2 is safe under the intended conditions of use.
(7)
Therefore, the opinion gives sufficient grounds to establish that UV-treated baker's yeast as a novel food ingredient complies with the criteria laid down in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.
(8)
Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council lay down specific provisions for the use of vitamins and minerals when added to food and in food supplements. The use of UV-treated baker's yeast should be authorised without prejudice to those specific provisions.
(9)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: