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 11 August 2006 the company Croda Chemicals Ltd. made a request to the competent authorities of the United Kingdom to place refined echium oil on the market as a novel food ingredient.

On 12 July 2007 the competent food assessment body of the United Kingdom issued its initial assessment report. In that report it came to the conclusion that refined echium oil is safe for human consumption at the proposed uses.

The Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to all Member States on 1 August 2007.

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.

On 10 January 2008 in his response to the comments and objections, the applicant agreed to amend the specifications of the refined echium oil and to restrict its uses as requested by some Member States.

Refined echium oil complies with the criteria laid down in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.

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: