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) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 lays down a Union list of food additives approved for use in food and their conditions of use.
(2)
That list may be updated in accordance with the common procedure referred to in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council, either on the initiative of the Commission or following an application.
(3)
On 19 January 2015 an application was submitted for authorisation of the use of sucralose (E 955) as a flavour enhancer in chewing gum with added sugars or polyols. The application was subsequently made available to the Member States pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008.
(4)
Sucralose was evaluated in 2000 by the European Union Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) which established an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 15 mg/kg body weight/day.
(5)
The use of sucralose (E 955) as a flavour enhancer in chewing gum with added sugars or polyols increases the overall intensity of the flavour of the chewing gum, and maintains that intensity over a longer period of time as the gum is chewed, compared to other food additive(s) formulations. Increasing the intensity and longevity of the flavour thus provides the consumer with a better overall experience whilst chewing the gum.
(6)
Authorising sucralose at 1 200 mg/kg in chewing gum with added sugars or polyols would lead to an increase in the intake of E 955 within the following limits: between 0 up to 0,1 % of the ADI in the case of mean consumption and between 0 up to 4,3 % of the ADI in the case of high level consumption. This is considered to be an additional minor exposure of the consumer and therefore is not of safety concern.
(7)
Pursuant to Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008, the Commission is to seek the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) in order to update the Union list of food additives set out in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, except where that update is not liable to have an effect on human health. Since the authorisation of use of sucralose (E 955) as a flavour enhancer in chewing gum with added sugars or polyols 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 Authority.
(8)
Therefore, it is appropriate to authorise the use of sucralose (E 955) as a flavour enhancer at a maximum level of 1 200 mg/kg in chewing gum with added sugars or polyols (food subcategory 5.3).
(9)
Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(10)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: