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 12 February 2014, the company Viasolde AB which makes the equipment for UV-treatment made a request to the competent authorities of Finland to place ultraviolet (UV) treated bread on the market as a novel food within the meaning of point (f) of Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97. The aim of the UV treatment is to enhance the vitamin D content of the bread, which means that the nutritional value of the bread would significantly differ from the nutritional value of traditionally baked bread.
(2)
On 14 March 2014, the competent food assessment body of Finland issued its initial assessment report. In that report it came to the conclusion that UV-treated bread meets the criteria for novel food set out in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.
(3)
On 19 March 2014, 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 13 November 2014, the Commission consulted the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) asking it to carry out an additional assessment for UV-treated bread as novel food in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 258/97.
(6)
On 11 June 2015, EFSA concluded in its ‘Scientific Opinion on the safety of UV-treated bread as a novel food’, that bread enriched with vitamin D2 through UV treatment is safe under the proposed conditions of use.
(7)
Therefore, the opinion gives sufficient grounds to establish that UV-treated bread as a novel food complies with the criteria laid down in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.
(8)
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. The use of UV-treated bread should be authorised without prejudice to the requirements of this legislation.
(9)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: