Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1530 of 30 July 2025 authorising the placing on the market of potassium magnesium trichloride hexahydrate as a novel food and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470
Date: 2025-07-30
Institutions: Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission
Subjects: chemical salt, consumer information, flavouring, food inspection, food safety, labelling, market approval, novel food




L_202501530EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/1530


31.7.2025







            COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2025/1530
of 30 July 2025
         
authorising the placing on the market of potassium magnesium trichloride hexahydrate as a novel food and amending 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(1) thereof,

Whereas:







(1)


Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 provides that only novel foods authorised and included in the Union list of novel foods 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)


On 21 December 2018, the company BK Giulini GmbH, member of ICL Group, (‘the applicant’), submitted an application for an authorisation to the Commission in accordance with Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 to place potassium magnesium trichloride hexahydrate on the Union market as a novel food. The applicant requested the novel food to be used as a salt substitute in leavened bread or similar, raw cured meat, cooked cured or seasoned meat, preserved or partly preserved sausages, as well as in deep-frozen pizza dishes intended for the adult population.












(4)


On 11 September 2019, the Commission requested the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) to carry out an assessment of potassium magnesium trichloride hexahydrate as a novel food.












(5)


During the assessment, on 19 April 2023, the applicant made a request for the protection of proprietary scientific studies and data submitted in support of the application, namely on the production process (3) and compositional data (4).












(6)


Due to the level of bromide in the novel food and given the ongoing work of the Authority’s Scientific Committee on the risks to human and animal health from the presence of bromide in food and feed (5), the Authority on 13 September 2024 requested the applicant to revise the proposed uses and use levels of the novel food. On 26 November 2024, the applicant agreed to revise the proposed uses and use levels for potassium magnesium trichloride hexahydrate accordingly. As a result, the novel food is intended to be used in raw cured or seasoned meat, cooked cured or seasoned meat, cereal-based dishes and preserved or partly preserved sausages, intended for the adult population.












(7)


On 17 December 2024, the Authority adopted its scientific opinion on the ‘safety of mineral salt containing potassium and magnesium as a novel food pursuant to Article 10 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283’ (6) in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.












(8)


In its scientific opinion, the Authority concluded that potassium magnesium trichloride hexahydrate is safe under the proposed conditions of use. Therefore, the Authority’s scientific opinion gives sufficient grounds to establish that potassium magnesium trichloride hexahydrate, when used under the proposed conditions of use, fulfils the conditions for its placing on the market in accordance with Article 12(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.












(9)


In that opinion, the Authority also noted that the additional intake of magnesium and potassium from the novel food does not represent a safety concern for the general population. Nevertheless, taking into consideration that foods containing the novel food may end up containing an amount of magnesium and/or potassium that is considered significant under Point 2 of Part A of Annex XIII to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (7), it is appropriate to inform consumers about that fact. In such cases, the nutrition declaration shall contain the amount of potassium and/or magnesium.












(10)


In its scientific opinion, the Authority also noted that its conclusion on the safety of the novel food was based on proprietary scientific studies and data submitted in support of the application, namely on data concerning the production process and compositional data. without which it could not have assessed the novel food and reached its conclusion.












(11)


The Commission requested the applicant to further clarify the justification provided with regard to their proprietary claim over those proprietary scientific studies and data and to clarify their claim to an exclusive right of reference to them in accordance with Article 26(2), point (b) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.












(12)


The applicant declared that they held proprietary and exclusive rights of reference to those proprietary scientific studies and data at the time they submitted the application, and that third parties cannot lawfully access, use or refer to those data and studies.












(13)


The Commission assessed all the information provided by the applicant and considered that they have sufficiently substantiated the fulfilment of the requirements laid down in Article 26(2) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Therefore, those proprietary scientific studies and data should be protected in accordance with Article 27(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Accordingly, only the applicant should be authorised to place potassium magnesium trichloride hexahydrate on the market within the Union during a period of five years from the entry into force of this Regulation.












(14)


However, restricting the authorisation of potassium magnesium trichloride hexahydrate and the reference to the scientific studies and data contained in the applicant’s file for the sole use by them does not prevent subsequent applicants from applying for an authorisation to place on the market the same novel food provided that their application is based on legally obtained information supporting such an authorisation.












(15)


It is appropriate that the inclusion of potassium magnesium trichloride hexahydrate as a novel food in the Union list of novel foods contains the information referred to in Article 9(3) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.












(16)


Potassium magnesium trichloride hexahydrate should be included in the Union list of novel foods set out in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470. The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 should therefore be amended accordingly.












(17)


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.   Potassium magnesium trichloride hexahydrate is authorised to be placed on the market within the Union.
Potassium magnesium trichloride hexahydrate shall be included in the Union list of novel foods set out in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470.


2.   The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.



Article 2
Only the company BK Giulini GmbH, member of ICL Group (8), is authorised to place on the market within the Union the novel food referred to in Article 1, for a period of five years from 20 August 2025, unless a subsequent applicant obtains an authorisation for that novel food without reference to the scientific studies and data protected pursuant to Article 3 or with the agreement of BK Giulini GmbH, member of ICL Group.


Article 3
The scientific studies and data contained in the application file and fulfilling the conditions laid down in Article 26(2) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 shall not be used for the benefit of a subsequent applicant for a period of five years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation without the agreement of BK Giulini GmbH, member of ICL Group.


Article 4
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, 30 July 2025.


For the Commission


The President

Ursula VON DER LEYEN
            





(1)  
            OJ L 327, 11.12.2015, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2015/2283/oj.

(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, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2017/2470/oj).

(3)  Confidential Salona® Process Flowchart (part 1 and 2) (Annex AI); Confidential Specification EF brine (Annex A2); Manufacturing licence (Annex B4); Salona® Process Flow chart non confidential – Al blacked out (part 1 and 2) (Annex B6); Salona® HACCP study 22.08.18 (Annex B8); Salona® RM HACCP study 3.10.18 (Annex B8); Salona® Impurity Profile 2014Y, 2015Y, 2016Y, 2017Y) (Annexes B9, B10, B 11, B12).

(4)  Certificates of analysis (Annexes C25, C25.1, C25.2 and C28); Full study report LAUS_Statement Water Solubility_OECD 105 resp. EU A.6 (Annex S13); Full study report CURRENTA_X-Ray Diffraction_Melting Range (Annex S14); Full study report LAUS_Solubilty_OECD_105_b4, b5, b6 (Annexes S4, S5 and S6); Full study report LAUS_combined water content b4, b5, b6 (Annexes S7, S8 and S9); Full study report LAUS water activity_b4, b5, b6 (Annexes S10, S11, S12).

(5)  
            https://open.efsa.europa.eu/questions/EFSA-Q-2022-00329.

(6)  
            EFSA Journal 2025;23:e9205.

(7)  Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, amending Regulations (EC) No 1924/2006 and (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Commission Directive 87/250/EEC, Council Directive 90/496/EEC, Commission Directive 1999/10/EC, Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Directives 2002/67/EC and 2008/5/EC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 608/2004 (OJ L 304, 22.11.2011, p. 18, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/1169/oj).

(8)  Address: Am Hafen 2, 68526 Ladenburg, Germany.




ANNEX
The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 is amended as follows:






(1)


in Table 1 (Authorised novel foods), the following entry is inserted in alphabetical order:










Authorised novel food


Conditions under which the novel food may be used


Additional specific labelling requirements


Other requirements


Data protection




‘Potassium magnesium trichloride hexahydrate




Specified food category




Maximum levels









1.


The designation of the novel food on the labelling of the foodstuffs containing it shall be ‘potassium magnesium mineral salt’.










2.


Where the addition of the novel food to a final product result in an amount of potassium and/or magnesium that is considered significant in accordance with Point 2 of Part A of Annex XIII to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, the nutrition declaration shall contain the amount of potassium and/or magnesium.






 


Authorised on 20 August 2025.
This inclusion is based on proprietary scientific evidence and scientific data protected in accordance with Article 26 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.
Applicant: BK Giulini, GmbH, member of ICL Group, Am Hafen 2, 68526 Ladenburg, Germany.
During the period of data protection, the novel food potassium magnesium trichloride hexahydrate is authorised for placing on the market within the Union only by BK Giulini GmbH, member of ICL Group, unless a subsequent applicant obtains authorisation for the novel food without reference to the proprietary scientific evidence or scientific data protected in accordance with Article 26 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 or with the agreement of BK Giulini GmbH, member of ICL Group.
End date of the data protection: 20 August 2030’




Raw cured (or seasoned) meat


1 050  mg/100  g




Cooked cured (or seasoned) meat


700  mg/100  g




Cereal-based dishes


600  mg/100  g




Preserved or partly preserved sausages


1 050  mg/100  g














(2)


in Table 2 (Specifications), the following entry is inserted:






Authorised Novel Food


Specifications




‘Potassium magnesium trichloride hexahydrate




Description / Definition:

The novel food is a mineral salt, which mainly consists of potassium magnesium trichloride hexahydrate. It is a white, off-white crystalline, fine granular, slightly hygroscopic product with a characteristic saline taste. It is produced by a multi-step crystallisation process of seawater from the Dead Sea by solar evaporation.

Synonym:

Potassium magnesium chloride hydrate, carnallite.

Identity:

Positive by X-ray diffraction

Characteristics:

Melting point (range): 149,6 – 160,2 °C
Solubility:






—


pH 1,94: 4,13 and 6,80: freely soluble










—


pH 8,06: slightly soluble










—


Insoluble parts: ≤ 0,3 % (w/w)




Water at 180 °C (water of crystallisation plus moisture): 32 %–40 %

Main constituents:







 


Chloride: 40 % – 42 % (w/w)










 


Potassium: 11,0 % – 13,6 % (w/w)










 


Magnesium: 7,9 % – 8,9 % (w/w)










 


Calcium: ≤ 0,2 % (w/w)










 


Sodium: ≤ 2,75 % (w/w)





Heavy metals:







 


Arsenic < 0,1 mg/kg










 


Cadmium < 0,1 mg/kg










 


Mercury < 0,05 mg/kg










 


Lead < 0,1 mg/kg





Trace elements:







 


Bromide: ≤ 0,40 % (w/w)










 


Strontium: ≤ 25 mg/kg










 


Manganese: ≤ 3,0 mg/kg










 


Iron: ≤ 4,0 mg/kg










 


Copper: ≤ 0,5 mg/kg










 


Boron: ≤ 10 mg/kg










 


Aluminium: ≤ 1,0 mg/kg










 


Total phosphorous: ≤ 5 mg/kg










 


Sulfate: < 500 mg/kg










 


Nitrite: < 10 mg/kg










 


Nitrate: < 400 mg/kg










 


Chlorate: < 0,2 mg/kg










 


Bromate: < 1 mg/kg










 


Fluoride: ≤ 5 mg/kg










 


Iodine: < 0,1 mg/kg





Microbiological parameters:







 


Total plate count: < 100 CFU/g










 



E. coli: not detected in 1 g










 



Salmonella: not detected in 25 g










 


Salt-tolerant microorganisms: < 100 CFU/g





Sum parameters:







 


Total organic carbon: < 0,10 % (w/w)




CFU: colony forming units’











ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1530/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)