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)
The specification of oil from micro-algae Schizochytrium sp. has been laid down and its placing on the market has been authorised in several foods at certain maximum use levels by Commission Decision 2003/427/EC. The first extension of uses of oil from micro-algae Schizochytrium sp. has been granted by Commission Decision 2009/778/EC.
(2)
On 16 January 2013, the company DSM Nutritional Products made a request to the competent authorities of the United Kingdom for extension of uses of oil from micro-algae Schizochytrium sp. as a novel food ingredient. DSM Nutritional Products has acquired company Martek Biosciences, who was the addressee of the previous decisions, by contract dated 30 June 2012.
(3)
On 29 April 2013, the competent food assessment body of the United Kingdom issued its initial assessment report. In that report it came to the conclusion that the extension of uses of this algal oil meets the criteria for novel food set out in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.
(4)
On 9 July 2013, the Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to the other Member States.
(5)
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 particular, objections that concerned elevated intake levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were raised. In accordance with Article 7(1) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 a Commission Implementing Decision should be made that takes into account the objections raised. The applicant consequently modified the request concerning the maximum amount of DHA in food supplements. This change and additional explanations provided by the applicant alleviated the concerns to the satisfaction of Member States and the Commission.
(6)
Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council lays down requirements on food supplements. Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council lays down requirements on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods. Directive 2009/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council lays down requirements on foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses. Commission Directive 96/8/EC lays down requirements on foods intended for use in energy-restricted diets for weight reduction. The use of oil from the micro-algae Schizochytrium sp. should be authorised without prejudice to the requirements of those legislations.
(7)
For reasons of legal clarity Decisions 2003/427/EC and 2009/778/EC should be repealed and replaced by this Decision.
(8)
Notifications of the placing on the market of an ingredient substantially equivalent to the algal oil as authorised by Decisions 2003/427/EC and 2009/778/EC, which have been submitted to the Commission in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 remain valid.
(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: