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Should we be afraid of Aspartame?. Should the precautionary principle be applied? Public Hearing ALDE, 16 March 2011 Michael Flüh, DG SANCO. History. Since 1994 in EU legislation on food additives ADI 40 mg/kg body weight Authorised in 33 different food categories
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Should we be afraid of Aspartame? Should the precautionary principle be applied? Public Hearing ALDE, 16 March 2011 Michael Flüh, DG SANCO
History • Since 1994 in EU legislation on food additives • ADI 40 mg/kg body weight • Authorised in 33 different food categories • Re-assessed (5x) by SCF and EFSA • Reflected in re-evaluation programme
Chronology of current events • 1 Feb COM asks EFSA for scientific and technical assistance • Scientific evaluation of the two studies • Need to revise the existingEFSA opinions • 28 Feb EFSA statement • Information do not give reason to reconsider previous evaluations
What will EFSA do next? • EFSA Panel will look in more depth into • Soffritti study • Implications of methanol reported in both studies • EFSA will continue to monitor the scientific literature
What will COM do next? • At this stage no need for immediate regulatory action • Statement does not include scientifically based concerns on the safety • Wait for the more comprehensive assessment by EFSA Panel
What will COM do next? • continues to closely follow EFSA work • enquire possibility/need for further studies • consider, if needed, further steps once new opinion EFSA is available (e.g. change of priorities in re-evaluation programme) • If in meantime new scientific elements become known, we will act