(1)

Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 lays down a Union list of food additives approved for use in food additives, food enzymes, food flavourings, nutrients and their conditions of use.

(2)

That list may be amended in accordance with the procedure referred to in Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 establishing a common authorisation procedure for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings (2).

(3)

Pursuant to Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008, the Union list of food additives may be updated either on the initiative of the Commission or following an application.

(4)

An application for the authorisation of use of Sodium ascorbate (E 301) as an antioxidant in vitamin D preparations intended for use in infant formulae and follow-on formulae as defined by Commission Directive 2006/141/EC of 22 December 2006 on infant formulae and follow-on formulae and amending Directive 1999/21/EC (3), was submitted on 15 December 2009 and has been made available to the Member States.

(5)

Ingredients used in the manufacture of infant formulae and follow-on formulae must meet a much stricter microbiological standard than general food, in particular for Enterobacteria and Cronobacter sakazakii. In order to achieve this, ingredients such as vitamin D preparations are subjected to a heat treatment. Such treatment in turn requires the presence of an antioxidant which is water-soluble and of neutral pH. Sodium ascorbate (E 301) was identified and proved to be the suitable antioxidant to meet that technological need.

(6)

Pursuant to Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008, the Commission is to seek the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority in order to update the Union list of food additives set out in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.

(7)

The European Food Safety Authority evaluated the use of Sodium ascorbate (E 301) as a food additive in vitamin D preparations intended for foods for infants and young children and expressed its opinion on 8 December 2010 (4). It concluded that the proposed extension of use of the food additive Sodium ascorbate (E 301) to be used as an antioxidant for the vitamin D preparations for use in infant formulae and follow-on formulae is not of safety concern.

(8)

It is therefore appropriate to authorise the use of Sodium ascorbate (E 301) as an antioxidant in vitamin D preparations intended for use in foods for infants and young children.

(9)

For that reason, Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 should be amended accordingly.

(10)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and neither the European Parliament nor the Council has opposed them,