Date: 2021-08-10Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1318 of 9 August 2021 correcting Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 establishing the Union list of novel foods, Decision 2008/968/EC authorising the placing on the market of arachidonic acid-rich oil from Mortierella alpina as a novel food ingredient and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/484 authorising the placing on the market of lacto-N-tetraose as a novel food (Text with EEA relevance)
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
Executive Summary:
This Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1318 corrects errors in Implementing Regulations EU 2017/2470 and EU 2020/484, and Decision 2008/968/EC concerning novel foods. These corrections aim to provide clarity and legal certainty to food business operators and Member States competent authorities regarding the Union list of novel foods. It entered into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Corrections to Implementing Regulation EU 2017/2470 (Union List of Novel Foods):**
* The entry for "Arachidonic acid-rich oil from the fungus *Mortierella alpina*" is replaced to clarify its use in foods for special medical purposes for infants, not restricting it to premature infants.
* "Calcium L-Methylfolate" is added to the Union list of authorized novel foods, including specifications for its use in various food categories and its description, chemical formula, and characteristics.
* **Corrections to Implementing Regulation EU 2020/484 (Lacto-N-tetraose):**
* The specifications for "Lacto-N-tetraose (LNT) microbial source" are corrected, specifically regarding the chemical formula (C26H45NO21) and the description of Lacto-N-tetraose, including agglomerates and correcting lacto-N-triose II.
* **Correction to Decision 2008/968/EC (Arachidonic acid-rich oil):**
* Article 1 is corrected to align with the updated uses for the arachidonic acid-rich oil, specifying its addition to infant formulae and follow-on formulae.
Impact Analysis:
* **Food Business Operators:**
* *Impact:* Must comply with the corrected specifications and conditions of use for the novel foods "Arachidonic acid-rich oil from *Mortierella alpina*," "Calcium L-Methylfolate," and "Lacto-N-tetraose (LNT) microbial source" as outlined in the corrected regulations.
* *Action Required:* Review product formulations and labeling to ensure compliance with the updated regulations.
* **Member States Competent Authorities:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the proper implementation and enforcement of the corrected Union list of novel foods.
* *Action Required:* Update monitoring and control procedures to reflect the changes in the regulations.
* **Infants:**
* *Impact:* The correction related to "Arachidonic acid-rich oil from Mortierella alpina" ensures that the authorization in the food category concerned refers to all infants, without being restricted to premature infants, ensuring appropriate products are available for all infants.
* *Action Required:* No action required.
Key Entities Referenced
European Commission: The executive branch of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the EU's day-to-day operations.
Regulation EU 2015/2283: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on novel foods.
Implementing Regulation EU 2017/2470: Commission Implementing Regulation establishing the Union list of novel foods.
Regulation EC No 258/97: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients.
Commission Decision 2008/968/EC: Commission Decision authorising the placing on the market of arachidonic acid-rich oil from Mortierella alpina as a novel food ingredient.
Mortierella alpina: A fungus from which arachidonic acid-rich oil is derived, used as a novel food ingredient.
Implementing Regulation EU 2020/484: Commission Implementing Regulation authorising the placing on the market of lacto-N-tetraose as a novel food.
Calcium L-Methylfolate: A novel food authorized as a source of folate in infant formula, follow-on formula, processed cereal-based food, and baby food.
10.8.2021 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union L 286/5
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2021/1318
of 9 August 2021
correcting Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 establishing the Union list of novel foods,
Decision 2008/968/EC authorising the placing on the market of arachidonic acid-rich oil from
Mortierella alpina as a novel food ingredient and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/484
authorising the placing on the market of lacto-N-tetraose as a novel food
(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 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Pursuant to Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, the Commission was to establish, by 1 January 2018, the
Union list of novel foods authorised or notified under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and
of the Council(2).
(2) The Union list of novel foods authorised or notified under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 was established by
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470(3).
(3) The Commission has identified errors in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470. Corrections are
needed in order to provide clarity and legal certainty to food business operators and to the Member States’
competent authorities, thus providing for the proper implementation and use of the Union list of novel foods.
(4) The novel food ‘Arachidonic acid-rich oil from the fungus Mortierella alpina’ was authorised under certain conditions
of use by Commission Decision 2008/968/EC(4), by the Dutch competent authority(5), and also pursuant to
Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 258/97. The related food category ‘Foods for special medical purposes for
premature infants as defined in Regulation (EU) No 609/2013’ erroneously refers only to premature infants,
although the authorisation in the food category concerned should refer to infants without being restricted to
premature infants. Therefore, it is necessary to correct Article 1 of the Decision 2008/968/EC and the entry
‘Arachidonic acid-rich oil from the fungus Mortierella alpina’ in Table 1 of the Annex to Implementing Regulation
(EU) 2017/2470.
(1) OJ L 327, 11.12.2015, p. 1.
(2) Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel food
ingredients (OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1).
(3) 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).
(4) Commission Decision 2008/968/EC of 12 December 2008 authorising the placing on the market of arachidonic acid-rich oil from
Mortierella alpina as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ
L 344, 20.12.2008, p. 123).
(5) Letter of 19 December 2011 (https://ec.europa.eu/food/system/files/2016-10/novel-food_authorisation_2011_auth-letter_arachidoni
c_acid_rich_oil_en.pdf).L 286/6 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union 10.8.2021
(5) The novel food ‘Calcium L-Methylfolate’ was authorised under certain conditions of use by the Irish competent
authority in January 2008 under the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 258/97, on the basis of a favourable opinion
on the safety of the novel food by the European Food Safety Authority(6). The novel food was erroneously not
included in the initial Union list. It is therefore appropriate that ‘Calcium L-Methylfolate’ is added to the Union list
of authorised novel foods, taking also into account that ‘Calcium L-Methylfolate’ was authorised as a source of folate
in infant formula, follow-on formula, processed cereal-based food and baby food by Commission Delegated
Regulation (EU) 2021/571(7).
(6) The novel food ‘Lacto-N-tetraose (‘LNT’) (microbial source)’ was authorised under certain conditions of use by
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/484(8). In the specifications, the chemical formula of Lacto-N-
tetraose was erroneously referred to as C H O instead of the correct C H NO . In the description of Lacto-N-
26 45 21 26 45 21
tetraose, the wording of ‘or agglomerates’ was erroneously omitted, and the minor ingredient ‘lacto-N-triose II’ is
erroneously referred to as ‘lacto-N-tetraose II’. Therefore, the specifications of the ‘Lacto-N-tetraose (‘LNT’)
(microbial source)’ relating to the chemical formula of Lacto-N-tetraose and to lacto-N-tetraose II in Table 2 of the
Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/484 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 should be
corrected accordingly.
(7) Decision 2008/968/EC and Implementing Regulations (EU) 2017/2470 and (EU) No 2020/484 should be corrected
accordingly.
(8) 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
The second paragraph of Article 1 of the Decision 2008/968/EC is corrected as follows:
‘The addition of fungal oil from Mortierella alpina to infant formulae and follow-on formulae shall be limited by its
content of arachidonic acid according to the rules specified in Annex I, 5.7 and in Annex II, 4.7 to Directive
2006/141/EC. Its use in formulae for infants shall be in accordance with the provisions of Council Directive
89/398/EEC (*) on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to foodstuffs intended for particular
nutritional uses.
_____________
(*) Council Directive 89/398/EEC of 3 May 1989 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses (OJ L 186, 30.6.1989, p. 27).’
Article 2
The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/484 is corrected in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 3
The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 is corrected in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
(6) https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2004.135.
(7) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/571 of 20 January 2021 amending the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the
European Parliament and of the Council as regards the list of substances that may be added to infant and follow-on formula, baby food
and processed cereal-based food (OJ L 120, 8.4.2021, p. 1).
(8) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/484 of 2 April 2020 authorising the placing on the market of lacto-N-tetraose as a
novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 (OJ L 103, 3.4.2020, p. 3).10.8.2021 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union L 286/7
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, 9 August 2021.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYENANNEX
(1) The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 is corrected as follows:
(a) the entry for ‘Arachidonic acid-rich oil from the fungus Mortierella alpina’ in Table 1 (Authorised novel foods) is replaced by the following:
Additional specific labelling
Authorised novel food Conditions under which the novel food may be used Other requirements
requirements
“Arachidonic acid-rich oil Specified food category Maximum levels The designation of the novel food on
from the fungus Mortierella the labelling of the foodstuffs
alpina Infant formula and follow-on formula In accordance with Regulation (EU) containing it shall be ‘Oil from
as defined in Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 Mortierella alpina’ or ‘Mortierella alpina
No 609/2013 oil’”
Foods for special medical purposes for In accordance with Regulation (EU)
infants as defined in Regulation (EU) No 609/2013
No 609/2013
(b) the following entry is inserted between the entry for ‘Calanus finmarchicus oil’ and the entry for ‘Chewing gum base (monomethoxypolyethylene glycol)’ in Table 1 (Authorised novel
foods) and Table 2 (Specifications):
— Table 1:
“Calcium L-Methylfolate Specified food category Maximum levels (expressed as folic acid) The designation of the novel food on
the labelling of the foodstuffs
Foods for special medical purposes and In accordance with Regulation (EU) containing it shall be ‘Calcium
total diet replacement for weight No 609/2013 L-Methylfolate’.”
control as defined in Regulation (EU)
No 609/2013
Infant formulae and follow-on formula In accordance with Regulation (EU)
as defined by Regulation (EU) No 609/2013
No 609/2013
Processed cereal-based foods and baby In accordance with Regulation (EU)
foods for infants and young children as No 609/2013
defined by Regulation (EU)
No 609/2013
Food supplements as defined in In accordance with Directive
Directive 2002/46/EC excluding food 2002/46/EC
supplements for infants and young
children
Food fortified in accordance with In accordance with Regulation (EU)
Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 No 1925/2006
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10.8.2021— Table 2:
“Calcium L-Methylfolate Description:
The novel food is produced by chemical synthesis starting from folic acid.
It is a white to light yellowish, almost odourless, crystalline powder, sparingly soluble in water and very slightly soluble or insoluble
in most organic solvents.
Definition:
Chemical formula: C H CaN O 20 23 7 6
Systematic 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,
calcium salt.
CAS Numbers: 129025-21-4 (Calcium salt with an unspecified ratio of L-5-MTHF/Ca2+) and 151533-22-1 (Calcium salt with
specified 1:1 ratio of L-5-MTHF/Ca2+).
Molecular weight: 497,5 Daltons
Synonyms: L-methylfolate, calcium; L-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, calcium salt [(L-5-MTHF-Ca)]; (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid,
calcium salt [(6S)-5-MTHF-Ca]; (6S)-5-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropteroyl-L-glutamic acid, calcium salt, and L-5-methyl-tetrahydrofolic
acid (L-5-MTHF) without the cation specified.
Structural formula:
Characteristics
Purity: > 95 % (Dry basis)
Water: ≤ 17.0 %
Calcium (on anhydrous and solvent free basis): 7.0 – 8.5 %
Calcium D-methylfolate (6R, αS isomer): ≤ 1.0 %
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286/9Other folates and related substances: ≤ 2.5 %
Ethanol: ≤ 0.5 %
Lead: ≤ 1 mg/kg
Boron: ≤ 10 mg/kg
Cadmium ≤ 0.5 mg/kg
Mercury ≤ 1.0 mg/kg
Arsenic ≤ 1.5 mg/kg
Platinum ≤ 2 mg/kg
Microbiological criteria:
Total viable aerobic counts: ≤ 1 000CFU/g
Total yeast and mould count: ≤ 100 CFU/g
CFU: Colony Forming Units”
(2) Point (2) of the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/484 is corrected as follows:
The entry for ‘Lacto-N-tetraose (‘LNT’) (microbial source)’ in Table 2 (Specifications) is replaced by the following:
“Lacto-N-tetraose (‘LNT’) (microbial Definition:
source) Chemical formula: C H NO
26 45 21
Chemical name: β-D-Galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-D-
glucopyranose
Molecular mass: 707.63 Da
CAS No 14116-68-8
Description:
Lacto-N-tetraose is a purified, white to off-white amorphous powder or agglomerates that is produced by a microbial process.
Source:
Genetically modified strain of Escherichia coli strain K-12 DH1
Characteristics/Composition:
Appearance: White to off white powder or agglomerates
Sum of lacto-N-tetraose, D-Lactose and lacto-N-triose II (% of dry matter): ≥ 90.0 % (w/w)
Lacto-N-tetraose (% of dry matter): ≥ 70.0 % (w/w)
D-Lactose: ≤ 12.0 % (w/w)
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10.8.2021Lacto-N-triose II: ≤ 10.0 % (w/w)
Para-lacto-N-hexaose-2: ≤ 3.5 % (w/w)
Lacto-N-tetraose fructose isomer: ≤ 1.0 % (w/w)
Sum of other carbohydrates: ≤ 5.0 % (w/w)
Moisture: ≤ 6.0 % (w/w)
Ash, sulfated: ≤ 0.5 % (w/w)
pH (20 °C, 5 % solution): 4.0 -6.0
Residual protein: ≤ 0.01 % (w/w)
Microbiological criteria:
Aerobic mesophilic bacteria total plate count: ≤ 1 000CFU/g
Enterobacteriaceae: ≤ 10 CFU/g
Salmonella spp.: Negative/25 g
Yeast: ≤ 100 CFU/g
Mould: ≤ 100 CFU/g
Residual endotoxins: ≤ 10 EU/mg
CFU: Colony Forming Units”
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