EFSA publishes data requirements for assessing food additives

This follows on from new EU legislation, adopted in December 2008, which sets out a common procedure for the authorisation of additives, flavourings and enzymes based on scientific risk assessments by EFSA.

The data requirements indicated by the ANS Panel will be considered by the Commission when finalising legislative measures concerning applications submitted for the evaluation and authorisation of food additives. The Commission is due to complete these measures by the end of 2010 following a public consultation.

In addition to this statement defining general data requirements, the ANS Panel is also due to review the separate guidance document on specific scientific methods to be used – e.g. the type of tests which should be carried out by applicants to demonstrate safety – when preparing applications for the approval of food additives.

The revision of this guidance, which will take account of advances in risk assessment A specialised field of applied science that involves reviewing scientific data and studies in order to evaluate risks associated with certain hazards. It involves four steps: hazard identification, hazard characterisation, exposure assessment and risk characterisation, will begin this autumn and should be completed by mid-2011. It will also be the subject of a public consultation by EFSA.

EFSA’s CEF Panel[2] is due to publish the details of its data requirements for the safety assessment of flavourings and enzymes in the coming weeks.

• Data requirements for the evaluation of food additive applications