On 18 September 2015, an authorisation letter was issued by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 258/97, for an extension of use of Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica) as a novel food ingredient to be used in additional food categories, namely, in fruit juice and fruit juice blends.

On 5 September 2016, the company MEGGLE Hrvatska d.o.o. made a request to the competent authority of Croatia for an extension of use of Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica) as a novel food ingredient to be used in additional food categories, namely, in yoghurt.

On 11 January 2017, the competent authority of Croatia issued its initial assessment report. In that report, it came to the conclusion that the extension of use and proposed maximum use levels of Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica) meet the criteria for novel food set out in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.

On 16 January 2017, the Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to the other Member States.

Reasoned objections were raised by the other Member States within the 60-day period laid down in the first subparagraph of Article 6(4) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97, in particular due to insufficient information. Additional explanations by the applicant alleviated the concerns to the satisfaction of the Member States and the Commission.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,