(1)

Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 provides that only novel foods authorised and included in the Union list 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) establishing the Union list of authorised novel foods was adopted.

(3)

Commission Implementing Decision 2014/155/EU (3) authorised, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4), the placing on the market in the Union of coriander seed oil from Coriandrum sativum as a novel food ingredient to be used in food supplements.

(4)

In October 2017, the company Ovalie Innovation (‘the applicant’) informed the Commission of its intention to place on the market crude coriander seed oil from Coriandrum sativum as a novel food ingredient in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 258/97. Accordingly, the applicant submitted a report of the competent authority of Ireland pursuant to Article 3(4) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97, which, on the basis of the scientific evidence submitted by the applicant, had concluded that the coriander seed oil from Coriandrum sativum was substantially equivalent to the coriander seed oil authorised by Implementing Decision 2014/155/EU.

(5)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/456 (5) and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2165 (6) authorised changes in the specifications of the novel food coriander seed oil from Coriandrum sativum to decrease the lowest saponification value from 186 mg KOH/g to 179 mg KOH/g and the minimum level of oleic acid from 8,0 % to 7,0 %.

(6)

On 12 January 2021, the applicant submitted an application to the Commission in accordance with Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 to change the specifications of the novel food ‘coriander seed oil from Coriandrum sativum’. The applicant requested to increase the maximum level of acid value in the coriander seed oil from 2,5 mg KOH/g of oil as indicated in the Union list of novel foods to ≤ 3,5 mg KOH/g of oil and to modify the colour description from ‘slight yellow’ to ‘yellowish to brown’ colour.

(7)

The applicant justified the request by indicating that the change is necessary in order to reflect the natural variation in the visual characteristics of coriander seed oil and in the levels of free fatty acids therein that are measured by titration with potassium hydroxide (KOH) of the seed oil obtained from the Coriandrum sativum plant.

(8)

The Commission considers that a safety evaluation by the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) of the proposed change of the specifications in accordance with Article 10(3) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 is not necessary. The increase in the acid value in coriander seed oil from 2,5 mg to ≤ 3,5 mg KOH/g of oil is comparable to the acid values of other common edible oils with a long history of safe consumption, and is below the upper limit of 4,0 mg KOH/g for edible fats and oils set by the joint Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and World Health Organisation Food Standards Programme Codex Alimentarius (‘FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius’) (7). On this basis, and for consistency with the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius standard, the Commission considers that the limit for the acid value of the coriander seed oil should also be set at 4,0 mg KOH/g. The proposed changes in the specification parameters reflecting the physical appearance of the oil are also comparable to the natural variations observed among practically all edible oils and do not affect its safety or nutritional value.

(9)

The proposed changes in the acid values and the physical appearance of coriander seed oil from Coriandrum sativum do not alter the conclusions of the safety assessment conducted by the Authority (8) that supported its initial authorisation. Therefore, it is appropriate to amend the specifications of the novel food coriander seed oil from Coriandrum sativum at the proposed acid level and as regards the physical appearance of the oil.

(10)

The information provided in the application gives sufficient grounds to establish that the proposed changes to the specifications of the novel food coriander seed oil from Coriandrum sativum comply with Article 12 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

(11)

The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(12)

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