ACNFP
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NOVEL FOODS AND PROCESSES
ACNFP Secretariat
Food Standards Agency
Room 3B Aviation House
125 Kingsway
London WC2B 6NH
Tel: +44 (0)20 7276 8595
Fax: +44 (0)20 7276 8513
acnfp@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
View on gamma-cyclodextrin
2001: Letter advising the European Commission of the ACNFP view on gamma-cyclodextrin.
Re: Gamma-cyclodextrin
Dear Mr Klepsch
The UK Competent Authority sought comments from the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) on the Italian Initial Opinion for the application under the Novel Foods Regulation (EC) 258/97 by Bioresco for the above product at a meeting on the 15th November 2001.
The UK CA agreed with the draft initial opinion of the Italian Competent Authority that according to (EC) 258/97 the product is likely to fall within the scope of the Food Additive Framework Directive (89/107/EEC) and should not be considered as a novel food. The UK CA considers that the Standing Committee for Foodstuffs should confirm whether the product is a novel food or an additive. The Committee concluded that the final status of gamma-cyclodextrin may have to be decided by the Commission Legal Services.
The UK CA also noted that the residual extraction solvent present albeit in low quantities (5ppm) in the final product was not permitted for use in foodstuffs under the terms of the Extraction Solvent Directive (88/388/EC), irrespective of the safety data that was provided for the final product. Inclusion of this solvent could be considered in any subsequent food additive application.
The UK CA were also concerned that consumption of large quantities of gamma-cyclodextrin may have implications for diabetics.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Sue Hattersley
ACNFP Secretary