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 19 August 2004 the company Unilever Deutschland GmbH made a request to the competent authorities of Germany to place allanblackia seed oil for use in yellow fat and cream based spreads on the market as a novel food ingredient.

On 3 April 2006 the competent food assessment body of Germany issued its initial assessment report. In that report it came to the conclusion that allanblackia seed oil is safe for human consumption.

The Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to all Member States on 8 June 2006.

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.

Therefore the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was consulted on 7 February 2007.

On 25 October 2007 EFSA adopted the ‘Opinion of the Scientific Panel on dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies on a request from the Commission related to the safety of allanblackia seed oil for use in yellow fat and cream based spreads’.

In the opinion the panel came to the conclusion that refined allanblackia seed oil is safe for human consumption under the specified conditions of use.

On the basis of the scientific assessment, it is established that refined allanblackia seed 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: