Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 78, Revision 1 (FGE.78Rev1): Consideration of aliphatic and alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons evaluated by JECFA (63rd meeting) structurally related to aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons evaluated by EFSA in FGE.25Rev2

The Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids of the European Food Safety Authority was requested to consider evaluations of flavouring substances assessed since 2000 by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (the JECFA), and to decide whether further evaluation is necessary, as laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1565/2000. The present consideration concerns a group of 24 aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons evaluated by the JECFA (65^th meeting). In the previous version of FGE.78, the Panel concluded that for 13 substances no applicable NOAEL was available for the substance itself or on a structurally related compound and therefore further data were required. Additional data (long term study of toxicity, mutagenicity studies and new tonnage figure) have now become available for beta-myrcene [FL-no: 01.008] and the present revision of FGE.78, FGE.78Rev1, includes the evaluation of these data. The substances were evaluated through a stepwise approach (the Procedure) that integrates information on structure-activity relationships, intake from current uses, toxicological threshold of concern, and available data on metabolism and toxicity. Two substances [FL-no: 01.011 and 01.013] are genotoxic in vitro and potentially carcinogenic, and are therefore not evaluated using the Procedure. The Panel concluded that the nine substance [FL-no: 01.002, 01.005, 01.006, 01.010, 01.016, 01.019, 01.020, 01.045 and 01.077] do not give rise to safety concerns at the levels of dietary intake, estimated on the basis of the MSDI approach. For 13 substances [FL-no: 01.003, 01.004, 01.007, 01.008, 01.009, 01.014, 01.017, 01.018, 01.024, 01.026, 01.029, 01.040 and 01.061] additional toxicity data are requested. For one substance [FL-no: 01.024] EU production figure is needed to finalise the evaluation. Besides the safety assessment of these substances, the specifications for the materials of commerce have been considered. For two substances [FL-no: 01.018 and 01.061] the isomeric composition is lacking. For 14 substances [FL-no: 01.004, 01.007, 01.008, 01.009, 01.017, 01.018, 01.019, 01.020, 01.024, 01.026, 01.029, 01.040, 01.045 and 01.061] further information on the composition of mixture is requested.