COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2022/196

of 11 February 2022

authorising an extension of use and the change of the specifications of UV-treated baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as a novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on novel foods, amending Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1852/2001 (1), and in particular Article 12 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 provides that only novel foods authorised and included in the Union list may be placed on the market within the Union.

(2) Pursuant to Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 (2) has established a Union list of novel foods.

(3) The Union list set out in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 includes UV-treated baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as an authorised novel food.

(4) Commission Implementing Decision 2014/396/EU (3) authorised, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) and following the European Food Safety Authority’s Opinion (5), the placing on the market of UV-treated baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as a novel food to be used in certain foods, including yeast-leavened breads and rolls and yeast-leavened fine bakery wares, as well as in food supplements as defined in Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (6).

(5) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1018 (7) authorised in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 an extension of use and use levels of the novel food UV-treated baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). In particular, the use of UV-treated baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) has been extended to additional food categories, namely, pre-packed fresh or dry yeast for home baking and food supplements without indication of maximum permitted levels, and an amendment of the vitamin D2 content in the yeast concentrate.

(6) On 15 May 2020, the company Lallemand Bio-Ingredients Division (‘the applicant’) submitted an application to the Commission pursuant to Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 for an extension of the use of the novel food UV-treated baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The applicant requested to extend the use of UV-treated baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to a number of additional foods intended for the general population. The applicant also requested the novel food to be used in foods intended for infants and young children.

(7) In accordance with Article 10(3) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, the Commission consulted the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) on 20 July 2020, requesting it to provide a scientific opinion on the extension of use of UV-treated baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as a novel food.

(8) On 28 April 2021, the Authority adopted its scientific opinion ‘Safety of extended uses of UV-treated baker’s yeast as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283’ (8). That scientific opinion is in line with the requirements of Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

(9) In its opinion, the Authority concluded that UV-treated baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is safe under the proposed conditions of use. Therefore, the opinion of the Authority gives sufficient grounds to establish that UV-treated baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), under the specific conditions of use, fulfils the conditions for its placing on the market in accordance with Article 12(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

(10) In accordance with Commission Directive 2006/125/EC (9), vitamin D is not to be added to baby foods. Due to its vitamin D2 content, UV-treated baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) should not be authorised for use in baby foods. Furthermore, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council (10) vitamins may not be added to unprocessed foodstuffs. Therefore, UV-treated baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) should not be authorised for the proposed use in amphibians, reptiles, snails, insects, algae and prokaryotes organisms, and in fungi, mosses and lichens.

(11) In accordance with the Authority’s opinion, the UV-treated baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) must be inactivated for use in infant formula and follow-on formula, processed cereal-based food and foods for special medical purposes as defined by Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (11), and therefore it is appropriate to amend the specifications of the novel food.

(12) The information provided in the application and in the Authority’s opinion gives sufficient grounds to establish that the changes to the specifications and the conditions of use of the novel food fulfil the conditions for its placing on the market in accordance with Article 12 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

(13) The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(14) 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:

Article 1 1. The entry in the Union list of authorised novel foods in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470, referring to the novel food UV-treated baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), is amended as specified in the Annex to this Regulation. 2. The entry in the Union list referred to in paragraph 1 shall include the conditions of use and labelling requirements laid down in the Annex.

Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 11 February 2022. For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN

(1) OJ L 327, 11.12.2015, p. 1.

(2) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 of 20 December 2017 establishing the Union list of novel foods in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council on novel foods (OJ L 351, 30.12.2017, p. 72).

(3) Commission Implementing Decision 2014/396/EU of 24 June 2014 authorising the placing on the market of UV-treated baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 186, 26.6.2014, p. 108).

(4) Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel foods ingredients (OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1).

(5) Scientific Opinion on the safety of vitamin D-enriched UV-treated baker’s yeast, EFSA Journal 2014; 12(1):3520.

(6) Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 June 2002 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to food supplements (OJ L 183, 12.7.2002, p. 51).

(7) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1018 of 18 July 2018 authorising an extension of use of UV-treated baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as a novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 (OJ L 183, 19.7.2018, p. 9).

(8) EFSA Journal 2021;19(6):6602.

(9) Commission Directive 2006/125/EC of 5 December 2006 on processed cereal-based foods and baby foods for infants and young children (Codified version) (OJ L 339, 6.12.2006, p. 16).

(10) Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods (OJ L 404, 30.12.2006, p. 26).

(11) Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on food intended for infants and young children, food for special medical purposes, and total diet replacement for weight control and repealing Council Directive 92/52/EEC, Commission Directives 96/8/EC, 1999/21/EC, 2006/125/EC and 2006/141/EC, Directive 2009/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulations (EC) No 41/2009 and (EC) No 953/2009 (OJ L 181, 29.6.2013, p. 35).