A company has applied to the FSA for DHA-rich oil to be approved for use in the European Union (EU) under the simplified approval procedure. The FSA's will present the company’s application dossier to the independent expert committee and views are wanted on the dossier.
The simplified approval procedure and 'equivalence'
The company, Daesang Corp., is requesting an opinion from the FSA on the 'equivalence' of its DHA rich oil, produced from the microalgae Schizochytrium, to DHA rich oil produced by Martek Biosciences Corp.
The European Novel Foods Regulation includes a simplified approval procedure for when a company believes its novel food is substantially equivalent to a food that is already on the market. In such a situation, the applicant can submit a notification to the European Commission after obtaining an opinion on equivalence from an EU member state – in this case the UK.
More about DHA
The applicant’s DHA-rich oil is sourced from the microalgae, Schizochytrium and will have the same intended applications and use levels as those already authorised which include its use in dairy products, cereals, food supplements and cooking fats.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid, is linked to various health benefits in humans including visual development of infants and reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases in adults. Traditionally, DHA is obtained from marine fish; however fish stock resources jeopardise the sustainability of this source. Some marine microalgae contain a high amount of DHA and can be utilised as an alternative to fish oils due to its rapid growth rate, and lower growth requirements.
About novel foods
A novel food is a food or food ingredient that does not have a significant history of consumption within the European Union before 15 May 1997.
Before any new food product can be introduced on the European market, it must be rigorously assessed for safety. In the UK, the assessment of novel foods is carried out by the ACNFP.
