Minutes of the AEJEG 11th September 2024

Meeting of the Committee at 09:30 on Wednesday 11th September 2024 via Microsoft Teams

Contents

Announcements

1. Tahmina Khan was introduced as the new Regulated Products Risk Assessment Team Leader, taking over from Michael Dickinson and would be covering the AEJEG for both standard AEJEG and the Smoke Flavouring Working Group (SFWG) meetings.  

Interests

2. No conflicts of interest were declared. 

Item 1: Welcomes and Apologies for absence   

3. Apologies were received from Dr Claude Lambré.   

Item 2: Matters arising Update on Application for the Extension of use of nisin (E 234) to a new food category “egg analogues” (RP42) 

4. The AEJEG were asked to consider this Update Paper for the extension of use of nisin (E 234) to a new food category “egg analogues”. This Update Paper contained documents provided by the Applicant detailing correspondence between the Applicant and the European Commission (EC) on the topic of anti-microbial resistance (AMR) and nisin (E 234).   

5. The AEJEG reviewed the information within correspondence between the Applicant and the European Commission.  

Item 3: Committee Advice Document (CAD) paper on the Application for the Extension of use of nisin (E 234) to a new food category “egg analogues” (RP42) AEJEG/2024/12  

6. The AEJEG was presented with a Draft Committee Advice Document (CAD) on the Application for the extension of use of nisin (E 234) to a new food category “egg analogues”.   

7. The Committee met to consider this Application in November 2021 for the first time, and identified several additional pieces of information which were requested from the Applicant via a Request For Information (RFI). This RFI response was evaluated and subsequent RFIs were raised either via correspondence or when this item was returned and Updates were presented to the AEJEG in the June 2022, July 2022, and December 2022 meetings.   

8. The AEJEG requested that the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food Antimicrobial Resistance Working Group (ACMSF AMR WG) review this Application in the context of the risk of antimicrobial usage from nisin (E 234), which was carried out during the AEJEG’s December 2022 meeting and the ACMSF AMR WG January 2024 meeting.  

9. The AEJEG concluded that they were satisfied with the CAD pending several editorial changes discussed in this meeting that the Secretariat confirmed would be finalised via correspondence.  

Item 4: Committee Advice Document paper on the Application for Authorisation of the substance glycolipids (E 246) (AM-1) for use as a new food additive (RP1457)) AEJEG/2024/013 

10. This Application is for the authorisation of the substance Glycolipids (E 246) also known as AM-1, for use as a new food additive. The substance has antimicrobial effects and therefore had been proposed for use in beverages with a normal use level of 10 mg/l and a maximum proposed level of up to 50 mg/l.   

11. Glycolipids (E 246) had previously been presented at the13th February 2023 meeting in which an RFI was raised, the responses to this RFI were presented to the AEJEG at the meeting on 20th July 2023, and a further RFI was raised on the10th August 2023. The AEJEG met to discuss the toxicological studies submitted for RP1457 at its meeting on 8th September 2023. Due to the nature of some of the studies received, a Member of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products, and the Environment (COT) attended the meeting to assist the AEJEG in these discussions. During the September meeting, the AEJEG agreed that no conclusions could be drawn on this data until further data on the antimicrobial properties of Glycolipids (E 246) had been received from the Applicant. A further RFI had been sent to the Applicant on Wednesday 8th November 2023 and a response was received on the 29th February 2024.   

12. The final RFI response had been discussed at the 16th April 2024 meeting where it had been agreed that RP1457 would return to the AEJEG as an updated cover paper with inclusion of all the received RFI information to allow the AEJEG to review the entire dossier in its totality.  

13. Glycolipids (E 246) returned to the AEJEG on 4th June 2024 and the AEJEG commented that there was no toxicity or genotoxicity concerns and agreed on a NOAEL. It was agreed the Secretariat would prepare a Committee Advice Document (CAD) capturing the discussions and conclusion for the AEJEG to review. 

14. Overall, Members were satisfied the CAD reflected the views and conclusions of the AEJEG. Minor editorial comments were suggested throughout the document, and these were actioned by the Secretariat during the meeting.  

15. Members agreed to approve the CAD pending on edits being finalised, and other minor suggestions being approved via correspondence. 

Item 5: Minutes of the Previous Meeting 

16. It was agreed by all Members that the Minutes would be agreed and cleared via correspondence 

Item 6: Any other Business 

17. Members were informed they would shortly be receiving an email detailing further information on the prohibition of using AI for transcription during meetings.  

18. The AEJEG questioned if the use of smart devices such as Alexa or Google Home would be covered under this policy. The Secretariat responded that as a general rule any such devices should be switched off during meetings however, they would seek clarification for Members.  

19. Members were also informed that SAC recruitment had begun, closing date 23:59 on the 7th October 2024. The Chair of the AEJEG, Dr Allain Bueno, had been offered a place on the panel for the recruitment process, however if he was unavailable, Members would be asked to volunteer.  

20. Members were informed that the next meeting of the AEJEG would be on October 16th 2024.