THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food additives, and in particular Article 10(3),
Whereas:
(1)
Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 lays down a Union list of food additives approved for use in foods and their conditions of use.
(2)
That list may be amended in accordance with the procedure referred to in Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 establishing a common authorisation procedure for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings.
(3)
Pursuant to Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008, the Union list of food additives may be updated either on the initiative of the Commission or following an application.
(4)
On 9 May 2012 an application was submitted for authorisation of the use of sweeteners in all products belonging to food subcategory 04.2.5.3 ‘Other similar fruit or vegetable spreads’ of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. That subcategory includes fruit or vegetable spreads similar to jams, jellies and marmalades as defined by Council Directive 2001/113/EC of 20 December 2001 relating to fruit jams, jellies and marmalades and sweetened chestnut purée intended for human consumption. The application was subsequently made available to the Member States pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008.
(5)
Directive 2001/113/EC describes and defines jams, jellies and marmalades. Fruit or vegetable spreads, similar to jams, jellies and marmalades, which fall within food subcategory 04.2.5.3, may contain ingredients other than those listed in Annex II of Directive 2001/113/EC (e.g. vitamins, minerals and flavourings).
(6)
Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 authorises the use of the sweeteners Acesulfame K (E 950), Cyclamic acid and its Na and Ca salts (E 952), Saccharin and its Na, K and Ca salts (E 954), Sucralose (E 955), Neohesperidine DC (E 959) and Steviol glycosides (E 960) in energy-reduced jams, jellies and marmalades, as well as in other similar fruit spreads as dried-fruit-based sandwich spreads that are energy-reduced or with no added sugar.
(7)
An extension of use of those sweeteners to all other energy-reduced similar fruit or vegetable spreads will allow their use in a similar way as in energy-reduced jams, jellies and marmalades.
(8)
As fruit or vegetable spreads are used as an alternative to jams, jellies and marmalades, the use of sweeteners in those spreads will not lead to an additional exposure of the consumer and therefore is not of safety concern.
(9)
Pursuant to Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008, the Commission is to seek the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority in order to update the Union list of food additives set out in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, except where such update is not liable to have an effect on human health. Since the extension of use of Acesulfame K (E 950), Cyclamic acid and its Na and Ca salts (E 952), Saccharin and its Na, K and Ca salts (E 954), Sucralose (E 955), Neohesperidine DC (E 959) and Steviol glycosides (E 960) to all other energy-reduced similar fruit or vegetable spreads constitutes an update of that list which is not liable to have an effect on human health, it is not necessary to seek the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority.
(10)
Therefore, Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 should be amended accordingly.
(11)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: