EFSA | 3rd Meeting Of The Working Group On Followup Tox | 23 November 2022 | Minutes

The Minutes Of The 3rd Meeting Of The Working Group On Followup Tox includes the following scientific topic(s) for discussion:

5.1. Opinion on the re‐evaluation of silicon dioxide (E 551) as food additive in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age and follow‐up of their re‐ evaluation as food additive for uses in foods for all population groups.

The Working Group members received an update on the assessment of the data related to the characterisation of the material used as a food additive currently ongoing with the FAF Panel WG on Food Additives Specifications. Based on the preliminary assessment of the data, it has been confirmed that the safety assessment of the food additive E 551 will have to be complemented with the nanospecific considerations, in accordance with the 2021 EFSA SC “Guidance on risk assessment of nanomaterials to be applied in the food and feed chain: human and animal health”. To this end, advice has been sought from the EFSA Crosscutting WG Nanotechnologies on the elements specific to silicon dioxide that will have to be taken into consideration for appraising the data available. The advice from the Cross-cutting WG Nanotechnologies was presented to the Working Group members and it will be used to inform the data extraction from both the published and unpublished data that will be included in this updated assessment.