Introductory text

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^f1, and in particular Article 7 thereof,

Whereas:

On 30 October 2003 Cargill Incorporated, acting through Cerestar, made a request to the competent authorities of the United Kingdom to place isomaltulose as a novel food or novel food ingredient on the market.

On 19 March 2004 the competent authorities of the United Kingdom issued their initial assessment report.

In their initial assessment report the United Kingdom’s competent food assessment body came to the conclusion that the proposed uses for isomaltulose are safe for human consumption.

The Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to all Member States on 15 April 2004.

Within the 60-day period laid down in Article 6(4) of the Regulation, reasoned objections to the marketing of the product were raised in accordance with that provision.

At a meeting on 10 December 2004 Member States experts considered the initial assessment report as far as risk assessment was concerned and there was no need for further consultation of the European Food Safety Authority.

As regards the nutrition information included in the labelling and advertising of foods containing isomaltulose, the rules of Council Directive 90/496/EC of 24 September 1990 on nutrition labelling for foodstuffs^f2 apply.

On the basis of the initial assessment report, it is established that isomaltulose complies with the criteria laid down in Article 3(1) of the Regulation.

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: