(1)

The Annex to Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 establishes a Union list of substances that may be added to one or more of the categories of food referred to in Article 1(1) of that Regulation.

(2)

In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2), Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/16 (3) authorised the placing on the market of nicotinamide riboside chloride as a novel food for use in food supplements as defined in Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (4), for the adult population.

(3)

Following an application for extension of the use of nicotinamide riboside chloride as a novel food to cover also its use for nutritional purposes as a source of niacin, in particular, in food for special medical purposes and total diet replacement for weight control, the Commission requested the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) to deliver an opinion on such extension of use in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 and, following the outcome of that assessment, to evaluate in the context of Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 the safety and bioavailability of that substance when added to the foods in question. On 14 September 2021, the Authority adopted a scientific opinion on the extension of use of nicotinamide riboside chloride as a novel food (5). In that opinion, the Authority concluded that nicotinamide riboside chloride is as safe as pure nicotinamide, for use in food for special medical purposes and total diet replacement for weight control. Furthermore, the Authority confirmed the bioavailability of nicotinamide, a form of niacin, from nicotinamide riboside chloride.

(4)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1160 (6) authorised the use of nicotinamide riboside chloride in, among other products, foods for special medical purposes and total diet replacement for weight control for the adult population, excluding pregnant and lactating women, subject to certain conditions.

(5)

The Commission considers that the Authority’s opinion also gives sufficient grounds to establish that nicotinamide riboside chloride is not of safety concern as a source of niacin when used in food for special medical purposes and total diet replacement for weight control, under the conditions set out in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1160. Therefore, it is appropriate to allow the use of nicotinamide riboside chloride as a source of niacin in food for special medical purposes and total diet replacement for weight control. That substance should therefore be included in the Union list of substances that may be added to certain categories of food, set out in the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 609/2013.

(6)

The Annex to Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 should therefore be amended accordingly,