EFSA and the European Commission have agreed to extend the timeframe for the Authority’s full re-evaluation of aspartame to allow sufficient time to consider and address feedback, including new information, resulting from the public consultation on its draft opinion.
From the comments received, experts on EFSA’s Scientific Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources Added to Food (ANS Panel) said that they have identified aspects of their draft opinion and key steps in their scientific approach that they would like to clarify further, including the expression of uncertainties, before finalising their conclusions. This will, said the Authority, ensure that EFSA’s scientific advice fully integrates information received and that those with an interest in this work will be able to easily understand how the panel derived its conclusions.
From 9 January to 15 February 2013, EFSA held an online public consultation on its draft Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of aspartame (E 951) as a food additive. On 9 April, the Authority wrapped up this process by holding a follow-up meeting to discuss the comments received. EFSA received over 200 comments on such issues as how EFSA’s experts select studies for its risk assessments, the safety of the metabolites of aspartame and how best to express uncertainties highlighted in the draft opinion.
