(1)

Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 provides that only novel foods authorised and included in the Union list of novel foods may be placed on the market within the Union.

(2)

Pursuant to Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 (2) has established a Union list of novel foods.

(3)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/484 (3) authorised the placing on the Union market of Lacto-N-tetraose obtained by microbial fermentation using the genetically modified strain K12 DH1 of Escherichia coli (‘E. coli’) as a novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

(4)

On 22 May 2020, the company Chr. Hansen A/S (‘the applicant’) submitted an application for an authorisation to the Commission in accordance with Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 to place lacto-N-tetraose (‘LNT’), obtained by microbial fermentation using two genetically modified strains (a production strain and an optional degradation strain) derived from the host strain E. coli BL21(DE3), on the Union market as a novel food. The applicant requested for LNT to be used in infant formula and follow-on formula as defined in Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4), processed cereal-based food for infants and young children and baby food for infants and young children as defined in Regulation (EU) No 609/2013, foods for infants and young children for special medical purposes as defined in Regulation (EU) No 609/2013, foods for special medical purposes as defined in Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 excluding foods for infants and young children, in milk-based drinks and similar products intended for young children, and in food supplements as defined in Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (5) intended for the general population. The applicant also proposed that food supplements containing LNT should not be used if breast milk which naturally contains LNT and/or other foods with added LNT, are consumed the same day. Subsequently, on 17 June 2022, the applicant modified the initial request in the application on the use of LNT in food supplements to exclude infants and young children.

(5)

On 22 May 2020, the applicant also made a request to the Commission for the protection for the protection of proprietary scientific studies and data submitted in support of the application, namely, mass spectrometry (‘MS’), nuclear magnetic resonance (‘NMR’) and a high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (‘HPAEC-PAD’) method validation and the results for the determination of the identity of LNT and of the carbohydrate by-products (lacto-N-triose II (‘LNT2’), para-lacto-N-hexaose (‘pLNH’), lactose, and glucose/galactose) present in the novel food (6); a description of the genetically modified LNT and lacto-N-neotetraose (‘LNnT’) production and optional degradation strains (7); certificates of deposition of genetically modified LNT and LNnT production and optional degradation strains (8); real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (‘qPCR’) system and method validation reports for the genetically modified LNT and LNnT production and optional degradation strains (9); a bacterial reverse mutation test with LNT (10); an in vitro mammalian cell micronucleus test with LNT (11); a 7-day dose range finding oral toxicity study in rats with LNT (12);, and a 90-day oral toxicity study in rats with LNT (13).

(6)

On 27 January 2021, the Commission requested the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) to carry out an assessment of LNT obtained by microbial fermentation using two genetically modified strains (a production strain and an optional degradation strain) derived from the host strain Escherichia coli (‘E. coli’) BL21(DE3), as a novel food, in accordance with Article 10(3) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

(7)

On 23 March 2022, the Authority adopted its scientific opinion on the ‘Safety of lacto-N-tetraose (LNT) produced by derivative strains of Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283’ (14) in accordance with the requirements of Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

(8)

In its scientific opinion, the Authority concluded that LNT is safe under the proposed conditions of use for the proposed target populations. Therefore, that scientific opinion gives sufficient grounds to establish that LNT, when used in in infant formula and follow-on formula as defined in Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, processed cereal-based food for infants and young children and baby food for infants and young children as defined in Regulation (EU) No 609/2013, foods for infants and young children for special medical purposes as defined in Regulation (EU) No 609/2013, foods for special medical purposes as defined in Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 excluding foods for infants and young children, in milk-based drinks and similar products intended for young children, and in food supplements as defined in Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, fulfils the conditions for its placing on the market in accordance with Article 12(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

(9)

In its scientific opinion, the Authority also noted that its conclusion on the safety of the novel food was based on the scientific studies and data on MS, NMR and HPAEC-PAD method validation and the results for the determination of the identity of LNT and of the carbohydrate by-products LNT2, pLNH, lactose, and glucose/galactose present in the novel food; the description of the genetically modified LNT and LNnT production and optional degradation strains; the certificates of deposition of genetically modified LNT and LNnT production and optional degradation strains; the qPCR system and method validation reports for the genetically modified LNT and LNnT production and optional degradation strains; the bacterial reverse mutation test with LNT; the in vitro mammalian cell micronucleus test with LNT; the 7-day dose range finding oral toxicity study in rat with LNT; and, the 90-day oral toxicity study in rats with LNT, without which it could not have assessed the novel food and reached its conclusion.

(10)

The Commission requested the applicant to further clarify the justification provided with regard to their proprietary claim over those scientific studies and data, and to clarify their claim to an exclusive right of reference to them in accordance with Article 26(2)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

(11)

The applicant declared that they held proprietary and exclusive rights of reference to the scientific studies and data on MS, NMR and HPAEC-PAD method validation and the results for the determination of the identity of LNT and of the carbohydrate by-products LNT2, pLNH, lactose, and glucose/galactose present in the novel food; the description of the genetically modified LNT and LNnT production and optional degradation strains; the certificates of deposition of genetically modified LNT and LNnT production and optional degradation strains; the qPCR system and method validation reports for the genetically modified LNT and LNnT production and optional degradation strains; the bacterial reverse mutation test with LNT; the in vitro mammalian cell micronucleus test with LNT; the 7-day dose range finding oral toxicity study in the rat with LNT; and, the 90-day oral toxicity study in the rat with LNT, under national law at the time they submitted the application and that third parties cannot use or refer to those data and studies.

(12)

The Commission assessed all the information provided by the applicant and considered that the applicant has sufficiently substantiated the fulfilment of the requirements laid down in Article 26(2) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Therefore, the scientific studies and data on MS, NMR and HPAEC-PAD method validation and the results for the determination of the identity of LNT and of the carbohydrate by-products LNT2, pLNH, lactose, and glucose/galactose present in the novel food; the description of the genetically modified LNT and LNnT production and optional degradation strains; the certificates of deposition of genetically modified LNT and LNnT production and optional degradation strains; the qPCR system and method validation reports for the genetically modified LNT and LNnT production and optional degradation strains; the bacterial reverse mutation test with LNT; the in vitro mammalian cell micronucleus test with LNT; the 7-day dose range finding oral toxicity study in the rat with LNT; and, the 90-day oral toxicity study in the rat with LNT, should be protected in accordance with Article 27(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Accordingly, only the applicant should be authorised to place LNT on the market within the Union during a period of five years from the entry into force of this Regulation.

(13)

However, restricting the authorisation of LNT and the reference to the scientific studies and data contained in the applicant’s file for the sole use by them does not prevent subsequent applicants from applying for an authorisation to place on the market the same novel food provided that their application is based on legally obtained information supporting such an authorisation.

(14)

In accordance with the conditions of use of food supplements containing LNT as proposed by the applicant and assessed by the Authority, it is necessary to inform consumers with an appropriate label that food supplements containing LNT should not be used if other foods with added LNT are consumed the same day.

(15)

It is appropriate that the inclusion of LNT produced with derivative strains of E. coli BL21(DE3) as a novel food in the Union list of novel foods contains the information referred to in Article 9(3) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

(16)

LNT produced with derivative strains of E. coli BL21(DE3) should be included in the Union list of novel foods set out in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470. The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(17)

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