(1)

Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 lays down a Union list of food additives approved for use in foods and their conditions of use.

(2)

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

(3)

Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 lays down specifications for food additives listed in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (3).

(4)

Those lists may be updated in accordance with the common procedure referred to in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008, either on the initiative of the Commission or following an application.

(5)

When updating the specifications it is necessary to take into account the specifications and analytical techniques for food additives as set out in the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives’ specifications adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and also the International Numbering System for Food Additives, i.e., INS name (4).

(6)

The currently authorised food colour ‘Brilliant Black BN, Black PN’ (E 151) should be renamed as ‘Brilliant Black PN’ in the Union list of food additives approved for use in foods and their conditions of use and in the specifications for this additive for the purpose of clarity and in order to align it with its registered name in the INS.

(7)

At present, the definition of the food additive Algal Carotenes (E 160a (iv)) in the specifications reads ‘Mixed carotenes may also be produced from strains of the algae Dunaliella salina, grown in large saline lakes located in Whyalla, South Australia. (…)’ referring to a specific location where the algae are grown, namely, Whyalla. However, in the last years, global demand on algal carotenes has increased and further saline lakes have been established in Australia and in other countries. There is no mention or any restriction about the location(s) where Dunaliella salina is grown in the current Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives’ specifications for algal carotenes (5) and the European Food Safety Authority’s opinion on the re-evaluation of mixed carotenes (E 160a (i)) and beta-carotene (E 160a (ii)) as a food additive (6). Therefore, in order to avoid market disruption, the description of Algal Carotenes (E 160a (iv)) in the specifications should be amended.

(8)

Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 contains errors in the specifications for Calcium Bisulphite (E 227) and Potassium Bisulphite (E 228). Those errors should be corrected.

(9)

Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 lays down specifications also for Microcrystalline Cellulose (E 460(i)) which indicate that the synonym for this food additive is Cellulose gel. Since the Codex Alimentarius adopted a dual name for Microcrystalline Cellulose (E 460(i)), its designated INS name is ‘Microcrystalline cellulose (Cellulose gel)’. Taking into account previous practice (7) and in order to ensure consistency, and to avoid any disruption in trade, the dual name of Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cellulose Gel should be adopted for the food additive (E 460(i)). Accordingly, the name ‘Cellulose gel’ should be removed from the entry ‘Synonyms’ in the specifications for that food additive and its name should be amended accordingly in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.

(10)

The food additive ‘Carboxy methyl cellulose, Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, cellulose gum’ (E 466) should be renamed as ‘Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, Cellulose gum’ in the Union list of food additives set out in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and in the specifications for this additive for the purpose of clarity and in order to align it with its registered name in the INS.

(11)

Pursuant to Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008, the Commission has to seek the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) in order to update the Union list of food additives set out in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, except if the updates in question are not liable to have an effect on human health. Since the updates in the Union lists referred to above are not liable to have an effect on human health, it is not necessary to seek the opinion of the Authority.

(12)

Regulations (EC) No 1333/2008 and (EU) No 231/2012 should therefore be amended and corrected accordingly.

(13)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,