Consultation on applications for authorisation of regulated products: one food additive, one feed additive (new specification), one food flavouring and the removal of eight permitted food flavourings, one food contact material, two novel foods and three genetically modified organisms for food and feed uses

Overview

This consultation is conducted by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) on behalf of the Minister for Public Health and Women's Health and seeks stakeholders’ views, comments and feedback in relation to the regulated product applications considered in this document. The applications in question have been submitted to authorise the following:

• a new specification of an existing permitted food additive 
• a new use for an existing permitted feed additive 
• a new authorisation for one food flavouring  
• the removal of eight food flavourings (one application covering eight food flavourings) 
• a new authorisation for one food contact material (FCM) 
• a new authorisation of one novel food and an extension of use of an existing novel food
• new authorisations for three genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for food and feed uses 

We ask stakeholders to consider any relevant provisions of law and other legitimate factors (other evidence further supporting clear, rational and justifiable risk analysis, such as consumer interests, technical feasibility and environmental factors), including those that FSS have identified as relevant to these applications. This is an opportunity for stakeholders to express views on these applications which Scottish Ministers will use to inform their decision making.

In October 2023, the Windsor Framework was implemented providing a unique set of arrangements to support the flow of agrifood retail food products from Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland. These goods can meet the same standards applied in the rest of the UK in public health, marketing (including labelling) and organic foods when moving through the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS). Under the NIRMS regulated products which have been authorised in GB will be able to be placed on the market in Northern Ireland.

The FSS opinions take into account the FSS/Food Standards Authority (FSA) safety assessments. The views gathered through this consultation will be considered and included alongside those of officials across FSS, the FSA, Devolved Administrations and UK Government Departments, in order to inform Scottish Ministers’ decision-making on whether to authorise the use of; the extension and change of use of; or the removal of the relevant regulated products in Scotland. The FSA have also published their opinion and launched a parallel consultation for English and Welsh stakeholders.

Why your views matter

Stakeholders are invited to consider the questions posed in relation to any relevant provisions of law and other legitimate factors as detailed above.  Stakeholder responses will be considered along with risk assessment and other factors in development of advice provided to Ministers. Unless the views gathered in the consultation provide additional evidence, the FSS will recommend that these regulated products are authorised on the proposed terms.