EFSA Works on Reevaluating Sweeteners
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is currently focusing on the safety assessment of sweeteners and plans for a new meeting in Paris, France, December 3.
The meeting is part of the ongoing re-evaluation of authorized food additives, under Regulation (EC) No 257/2010. The Panel on Food Additives and Flavorings (FAF) has developed two draft protocols detailing the approach and the methodology that will be followed for performing all the risk assessment steps, from hazard identification and characterization to exposure assessment for its coming re-evaluation of sweeteners.
A first public consultation on the protocol for hazard identification and characterization closed on September 19, 2019. A second one on the methodology applicable to exposure assessment was launched on October 9. EFSA has invited the scientific community, stakeholders and other interested parties to provide feedback via the online submission tool on EFSA’s website by November 22.
Given the complex nature of the subsequent evaluations and the potentially high public interest in this area of work, EFSA is holding a public scientific meeting to engage in discussion with all the stakeholders and other relevant parties. The event provides an opportunity to complement the two consultations and gather additional feedback on the protocols prior to their implementation. The event takes place in Paris on 3 December 2019.
EFSA scientists and external experts will present the approaches developed in the two protocols, the main feedback received during the public consultation phase and how this could be further developed in the protocols. These will be followed by a discussion during which attendees will have the opportunity to put questions to the presenters.
An update on the overall status of the re-evaluation of food additives will also be presented.
The meeting is intended for all interested stakeholders, especially those contributing to the public consultation with expertise in the area of food additives, toxicology, dietary exposure, systematic reviews and/or protocol development. Participation is limited to a maximum of 100 participants. The final selection will aim at a balanced representation of expertise and stakeholders.
Interested parties can register by November 8.