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(1), and in particular Article 7 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) On 29 March 2012, the company Kyowa Hakko Europe GmbH made a request to the competent authorities of Ireland to place citicoline on the market as a novel food ingredient.
(2) On 2 June 2012, the competent food assessment body of Ireland issued its initial assessment report. In that report it came to the conclusion that citicoline for use in certain foods at the levels proposed by the applicant meets the criteria set out in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.
(3) On 10 July 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. In addition, some Member States explained in their objections that they consider products containing citicoline sodium salt to be a medicinal product.
(5) On 27 November 2012, the applicant informed the Commission that its application was modified to seek only approval for the use of citicoline in food supplements at a maximum level of 500 mg/day, and in food for particular nutritional uses, specifically foods for special medical purposes, at a maximum level of 250 mg/serving and a maximum daily consumption level of 1 000 mg from these types of foods. These products are aimed at adults and are not intended to be consumed by children.
(6) On 15 January 2013, the Commission consulted the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) asking it to carry out an additional assessment for citicoline as food ingredient in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 258/97.
(7) On 10 October 2013, EFSA adopted a Scientific Opinion on the safety of ‘citicoline’ as a Novel Food ingredient(2), concluding that it is safe under the proposed uses and use levels.
(8) The opinion gives sufficient grounds to establish that citicoline in the proposed uses and use levels complies with the criteria laid down in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.
(9) In its opinion, EFSA also considered that citicoline may interact with specific medicines and should therefore not be administered together with those medicines. Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(3) applies where a product, taking into account all its characteristics, may fall both within the definition of ‘medicinal product’ as laid down in Article 1(2) of that Directive and within the definition of a product covered by Regulation (EC) No 258/97. In that respect, where a Member State establishes in accordance with Directive 2001/83/EC that a product is a medicinal product, it may restrict the placing on the market of that product in accordance with Union law.
(10) Commission Directive 1999/21/EC(4) lays down requirements on dietary foods for special medical purposes. The use of citicoline should be authorised without prejudice to the requirements of that legislation.
(11) Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(5) lays down requirements on food supplements. The use of citicoline should be authorised without prejudice to the requirements of that legislation.
(12) 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:
EFSA Journal 2013; 11(10):3421.
Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use (OJ L 311, 28.11.2001, p. 67).
Commission Directive 1999/21/EC of 25 March 1999 on dietary foods for special medical purposes (OJ L 91, 7.4.1999, p. 29).
Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 June 2002 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to food supplements (OJ L 183, 12.7.2002, p. 51).