2003/426/EC: Commission Decision of 5 June 2003 authorising the placing on the market of "noni juice" (juice of the fruit of Morinda citrifolia L.) as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document number C(2003) 1789)

Commission Decision
of 5 June 2003
authorising the placing on the market of "noni juice" (juice of the fruit of Morinda citrifolia L.) as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council
(notified under document number C(2003) 1789)
(Only the English text is authentic)
(2003/426/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
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,
Having regard to the request by Morinda Inc. to the competent authorities of Belgium of 25 April 2000 for placing "noni juice" (juice of the fruit of Morinda citrifolia L.) on the market as a novel food,
Having regard to the initial assessment report drawn up by the competent authorities of Belgium,
Whereas:
(1) In their initial assessment report the Belgian competent food assessment body came to the conclusion that an additional assessment was required.
(2) The Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to all Member States on 18 September 2001.
(3) The Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) was asked to provide an additional assessment on 4 December 2001. The SCF in its opinion of 4 December 2002 considered Tahitian NoniÂŽ juice, at the observed levels of intake, as acceptable. The Committee also noted that the data supplied and the information available provided no evidence for special health benefits of "Noni juice" which go beyond those of other fruit juices.
(4) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,