(1)

On 27 March 2013, the company LLR-G5 Ltd made a request to the competent authorities of Ireland to place organic silicon (monomethylsilanetriol) on the market as a novel food ingredient within the meaning of point (c) of Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.

(2)

On 17 April 2013, the competent food assessment body of Ireland issued its initial assessment report. In that report it came to the conclusion that an additional assessment was required in line with Article 6(3) of the novel food Regulation (EC) No 258/97.

(3)

On 26 April 2013, the Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to the other Member States.

(4)

On 10 October 2013, the Commission consulted the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) asking it to carry out an additional assessment for organic silicon (monomethylsilanetriol) as novel food ingredient in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 258/97.

(5)

On 9 March 2016, EFSA concluded in its opinion on the safety of organic silicon (monomethylsilanetriol, MMST) as a novel food ingredient for use as a source of silicon in food supplements and bioavailability of orthosilicic acid from the source (2), that organic silicon (monomethylsilanetriol) is safe under the proposed conditions of use.

(6)

That opinion gives sufficient grounds to establish that organic silicon (monomethylsilanetriol) as a novel food ingredient complies with the criteria laid down in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.

(7)

Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) lays down requirements on food supplements. The use of organic silicon (monomethylsilanetriol) should be authorised without prejudice to the requirements of this legislation.

(8)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,