CELEX: 32014D0154
Language: en
Date: 2014-03-19 00:00:00
Title: 2014/154/EU: Commission Implementing Decision of 19 March 2014 authorising the placing on the market of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document C(2014) 1683)

21.3.2014   
            
            
               EN
            
            
               Official Journal of the European Union
            
            
               L 85/10
            
         
      COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION
   
   of 19 March 2014
   authorising the placing on the market of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council
   (notified under document C(2014) 1683)
   (Only the Italian text is authentic)
   (2014/154/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 28 July 2011, the company Gnosis SpA made a request to the competent authorities of Ireland to place (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt on the market as a novel food ingredient for use in food supplements.
            
         
               (2)
            
            
               On 26 October 2011, the competent food assessment body of Ireland issued its initial assessment report. In that report it came to the conclusion that (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt meets the criteria set out in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.
            
         
               (3)
            
            
               On 28 February 2012, the Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to the other Member States.
            
         
               (4)
            
            
               Reasoned objections were raised within the 60-day period laid down in the first subparagraph of Article 6(4) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.
            
         
               (5)
            
            
               On 14 September 2012 and on 5 March 2013 the Commission consulted the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) asking it to carry out an additional assessment for (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt as food ingredient in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 258/97.
            
         
               (6)
            
            
               On 11 September 2013, EFSA adopted a Scientific Opinion on (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt as a source of folate added for nutritional purposes to food supplements (2), concluding that (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt is not of safety concern as a source of folate.
            
         
               (7)
            
            
               The opinion gives sufficient grounds to establish that (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt as a source of folate complies with the criteria laid down in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.
            
         
               (8)
            
            
               Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (3), lays down specific provisions for the use of vitamins and minerals in food supplements. The use of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt should be authorised without prejudice to the requirements of this legislation.
            
         
               (9)
            
            
               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
   (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt as a source of folate as specified in the Annex may be placed on the market in the Union as a novel food ingredient to be used in food supplements without prejudice to the specific provisions of Directive 2002/46/EC.
   Article 2
   The designation of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt, authorised by this Decision on the labelling of the foodstuffs containing it shall be ‘(6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt’ or ‘5MTHF-glucosamine’.
   Article 3
   This Decision is addressed to Gnosis SpA, Via Lavoratori Autobianchi 1, 20832 Desio (MB), Italy.
   
      Done at Brussels, 19 March 2014.
      
         
            For the Commission
         
         Tonio BORG
         
         
            Member of the Commission
         
      
   
   
      (1)  OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1.
   
      (2)  EFSA Journal 2013;11(10):3358.
   
      (3)  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).
   
      ANNEX
      
         SPECIFICATION OF (6S)-5-METHYLTETRAHYDROFOLIC ACID, GLUCOSAMINE SALT
      
      
         Definition:
      
      
                  Chemical name
               
               
                  N-[4-[[[(6S)-2-amino-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-5-methyl-4-oxo-6-pteridinyl]methyl]amino]benzoyl]-L-glutamic acid, glucosamine salt
               
            
                  Chemical formula
               
               
                  C32H51N9O16
                  
               
            
                  Molecular weight
               
               
                  817,80 g/mol (anhydrous)
               
            
         Description: Creamy to light-brown powder.
      
         Identification:
      
      
                  CAS No.
               
               
                  1181972-37-1
               
            
         Purity:
      
      
                  Diastereoisomeric purity
               
               
                  At least 99 % of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid
               
            
                  Glucosamine assay
               
               
                  34-36 % in dry basis
               
            
                  5-Methyltetrahydrofolic acid assay
               
               
                  54-59 % in dry basis
               
            
                  Water content
               
               
                  Not more than 8,0 %
               
            
                  Lead
               
               
                  Not more than 2,0 ppm
               
            
                  Cadmium
               
               
                  Not more than 1,0 ppm
               
            
                  Mercury
               
               
                  Not more than 0,1 ppm
               
            
                  Arsenic
               
               
                  Not more than 2,0 ppm
               
            
                  Boron
               
               
                  Not more than 10 ppm
               
            
         Microbiological criteria:
      
      
                  Total aerobic microbial count
               
               
                  Not more than 100 cfu/g
               
            
                  Total combined yeast and moulds
               
               
                  Not more than 100 cfu/g
               
            
                  
                     Escherichia coli
                  
               
               
                  Absent in 10 g