Minutes of the AEJEG 11th February 2025

Joint Expert Group on Additives, Enzymes, and other Regulated Products (AEJEG)       

Meeting of the Committee at 09:30 on Tuesday 11th of February 2025 via Microsoft Teams 

Contents

Announcements    

1. None 

Interests 

2. Dr Andrew Collins informed Members he had a declaration that he had been working on a proposal for the OECD for a new test guideline for the in vitro comet assay.   

Item 1: Welcome and apologies 

3. The chair welcomed Members and the Secretariat.  

4. Apologies were received from Dr Martin Rose of the AEJEG, and Dr Gaetana Spedalieri and Ms Polly Bevan of the Secretariat.  

5. It was announced Professor Qasim Chaudhry would be joining the meeting at 12pm.  

Item 2: RP507 Committee Advice Document (CAD) V4.0 – Selection of Point of departure and HBGV derivation on the Application for Authorisation of Blue Microalgae Extract (Blue Galdieria Extract) for Use as a New Food Additive in the ‘Colour’ Functional Class (RP507)  

6. The AEJEG was presented with, and asked to evaluate, the fourth draft Committee Advice Document (CAD) for RP507. This Application is for the authorisation of blue microalgae or blue Galdieria extract for use as a new food additive. The AEJEG had initially reviewed the Application in February 2022. The AEJEG further reviewed the Application in the July 2022, October 2022, April 2023, July 2023, September 2023, February 2024, April 2024, October 2024, December 2024, and February 2025 meetings. A toxicology subgroup of the AEJEG also met in January 2024 for a focused discussion of the toxicology data. 

7. The AEJEG reviewed the fourth draft CAD for application RP507. Overall, the AEJEG were satisfied with the contents of the CAD excepting final additions and conclusions that would be added and finalised via email correspondence. 

Item 3: RP40 Update on the Extension of use of phosphates (E 338–341, E 343, E 450–452) to a new food category “egg analogues” (RP40) Update Cover paper 

8. The AEJEG were presented with an update paper for Regulated Products Application 40 (RP40) which is for the extension of use of phosphates (E 338–341, E 343, E 450–452) to a new food category ‘egg analogues’ to be included under category 12.9 ‘protein products’ excluding category 1.8. This captured RFI responses since its previous review in the July 2024 meeting.  

9.  Members agreed that clarifications should be issued to the Applicant. The Secretariat agreed they would prepare the questions and circulate them to the AEJEG, prior to being sent to the Applicant. 

Item 4: Minutes of the last meeting 

10. Members were presented with the minutes of the AEJEG meeting held on the 4th December 2024. 

11. The minutes of the last meeting were agreed as accurate record, subject to minor editorial changes. 

Item 5 – Matters Arising: Verbal Update on RP1457 

12. The AEJEG were provided with a verbal update on RP1457, this Application is for the authorisation of the substance Glycolipids also known as AM-1, for use as a new food additive.  

13. The AEJEG’s feedback was noted for inclusion in the Committee Advice Document 

Item 6 - AOB 

14. Members were reminded of the FSA security proceedings surrounding access and confidential nature of the materials provided to Members, a document was provided to Members for reference. 

15. A presentation was given by Ms Tahmina Khan as the AEJEG Team Lead outlining how the FSA currently operates the AEJEG and highlighting current ongoing work in the FSA and future plans. Members were asked to share feedback and ideas on the proposed plan.   

16. Members requested a section during each meeting with details on what other applications are going through non-AEJEG processes. 

17. Members were updated that their comments on the EFSA open consultation on additive guidance would be collated with those of the COT and sent onwards to the public consultation. 

18. The next smoke flavouring AEJEG meeting is to be held virtually on the 19th February 2025, with the next standard meeting on 1st of April 2025.