2012/288/EU: Commission Implementing Decision of 1 June 2012 authorising the placing on the market of Gamma-Cyclodextrin as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document C(2012) 3496)
Date: 2012-06-01
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: food additive, food safety, labelling, market approval




L_2012144EN.01004101.xml










5.6.2012   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


L 144/41








            COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION
         
of 1 June 2012
         
authorising the placing on the market of Gamma-Cyclodextrin as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council
(notified under document C(2012) 3496)
(Only the German text is authentic)
(2012/288/EU)


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 (1), and in particular Article 7 thereof,

Whereas:







(1)


On 26 February 2010 the company Wacker Chemie GmbH made a request to the competent authorities of Ireland to place γ-Cyclodextrin on the market as novel food ingredient. Gamma-Cyclodextrin is a digestible carbohydrate to be added to foods.












(2)


On 9 July 2010 the competent food assessment body of Ireland issued its initial assessment report. In this report it came to the conclusion that the company Wacker Chemie GmbH had provided sufficient information to authorise the placing on the market of γ-Cyclodextrin as a novel food ingredient.












(3)


The Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to all Member States on 19 July 2010.












(4)


Within the 60-day period laid down in Article 6(4) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 reasoned objections were raised in accordance with that provision. In particular, objections which concerned the absorption of fat soluble vitamins were raised. In accordance with the provisions of Article 7(1) a Commission Implementing Decision is required that takes into account the objections raised. Additional explanations by the applicant alleviated these concerns to the satisfaction of Member States and the Commission.












(5)


The intentional addition of γ-Cyclodextrin to food for technological purposes falls within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food additives (2) and should be authorised in accordance with that regulation.












(6)


The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
Gamma-Cyclodextrin as specified in the Annex may be placed on the market as a novel food ingredient.


Article 2
The designation of γ-Cyclodextrin authorised by this Decision on the labelling of the foodstuffs containing it shall be ‘Gamma-Cyclodextrin’ or ‘γ-Cyclodextrin’.


Article 3
This Decision is addressed to Wacker Chemie AG, Hanns Seidel Platz 4, 81737 München, Germany.




Done at Brussels, 1 June 2012.


For the Commission

John DALLI
            

Member of the Commission






(1)  
            OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1.

(2)  
            OJ L 354, 31.12.2008, p. 16.




ANNEX

SPECIFICATIONS OF γ-CYCLODEXTRIN


Synonyms

γ-cyclodextrin, γ-dextrin, cyclooctaamylose, cyclomaltooctaose, γ-cycloamylase

Definition

A non-reducing cyclic saccharide consisting of eight α-1,4-linked D-glucopyranosyl units produced by the action of cyclodextrin glucosyltransferase (CGTase, EC 2.4.1.19) on hydrolysed starch. Recovery and purification of γ-cyclodextrin may be carried out by precipitation of a complex of γ-cyclodextrin with 8-cyclohexadecen-1-one, dissolution of the complex with water and n-decane, steam-stripping of the aqueous phase and recovery of gamma-CD from the solution by crystallisation.






Chemical name


Cyclooctaamylose




CAS number


17465-86-0




Chemical formula


(C6H10O5)8





Structural formula











Assay


Not less than 98 % (dry basis)




Description


Virtually odourless, white or almost white crystalline solid





Characteristics


Identification







Melting range


Decomposes above 285 °C




Solubility


Freely soluble in water; very slightly soluble in ethanol




Specific rotation


[α]D
25: between + 174° and + 180° (1 % solution)





Purity







Water


Not more than 11 %




Residual complexant (8-cyclohexadecen-1-one (CHDC)


Not more than 4 mg/kg




Residual solvent (n-decane)


Not more than 6 mg/kg




Reducing substances


Not more than 0,5 % (as glucose)




Sulphated ash


Not more than 0,1 %