COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 24 November 2011

authorising the placing on the market of flavonoids from

Glycyrrhiza glabra

L. as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council

(notified under document C(2011) 8362)

(Only the Dutch and the French texts are authentic)

(2011/761/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 1 November 2007 the company Kaneka Pharma Europe made a request to the competent authorities of Belgium to place flavonoids from

Glycyrrhiza glabra

L. (Glavonoid) on the market as novel food ingredient.

(2) On 3 December 2008 the competent authority for food assessment of Belgium issued the initial assessment report. In that report it came to the conclusion that the company Kaneka provided sufficient information to authorise the placing on the market of flavonoids from

Glycyrrhiza glabra

L. as a novel food ingredient.

(3) The Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to all Member States on 19 February 2009.

(4) Within the 60-day period laid down in Article 6(4) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 reasoned objections to the marketing of the product were raised in accordance with that provision.

(5) Therefore the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was consulted on 22 July 2009.

(6) On 30 June 2011, EFSA in the ‘Scientific opinion on the safety of “Glavonoid®”, an extract derived from the roots of or rootstock of

Glycyrrhiza glabra

L., as a novel food ingredient on request from the European Commission’(2) came to the conclusion that Glavonoid was safe for the general adult population at an intake of up to 120 mg per day.

(7) In order not to exceed an intake of 120 mg per day of Glavonoid, Kaneka Pharma Europe NV agreed on 11 August 2011 to limit the use of Glavonoid as an ingredient to food supplements and beverages.

(8) On the basis of the scientific assessment, it is established that Glavonoid complies with the criteria laid down in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.

(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

Flavonoids from

Glycyrrhiza glabra

L. (hereinafter referred to as ‘Glavonoid’), as specified in Annex I, may be placed on the market in the Union as a novel food ingredient for the uses specified in Annex II.

Glavonoid shall not be sold to the final consumer as such.

Article 2

1. The designation of flavonoids from

Glycyrrhiza glabra

L. authorised by this Decision on the labelling of the foodstuffs containing it shall be ‘flavonoids from

Glycyrrhiza glabra

L.’.

2. There shall be a statement on the labelling of the foods where the product was added as a novel food ingredient indicating that:

(a) the product should not be consumed by pregnant and breast feeding women, children and young adolescents; and

(b) people taking prescription drugs should only consume the product under medical supervision;

3. The amount of Glavonoid in the final food shall be indicated on the labelling of the food containing it.

4. Beverages containing Glavonoid shall be presented to the final consumer as single portions.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to Kaneka Pharma Europe NV, Triomflaan 173, 1160 Brussels, Belgium.

Done at Brussels, 24 November 2011.

For the Commission

John DALLI

Member of the Commission

(1)

OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1

(2)

EFSA Journal

2011; 9(7): 2287.

ANNEX I

SPECIFICATIONS OF GLAVONOID

Description

Glavonoid is an extract derived from the roots or rootstock of

Glycyrrhiza glabra

L. by extraction with ethanol followed by further extraction of this ethanolic extract with medium-chain triglycerides. It is a dark-brown coloured liquid, containing 2,5 % to 3,5 % of glabridin.

Specifications

Parameter
Moisture	less than 0,5 %
Ash	less than 0,1 %
Peroxide value	less than 0,5 meq/kg
Glabridin	2,5 to 3,5 % of fat
Glycyrrhizinic acid	less than 0,005 %
Fat including polyphenol-type substances	not less than 99 %
Protein	less than 0,1 %
Carbohydrates	not detectable

ANNEX II

Food category

Maximum content of Glavonoid

Beverages based on milk

Beverages based on yoghurt

Beverages based on fruits or vegetables

120 mg per daily portion

Food supplements

120 mg per portion of daily consumption