CHINA - NHFPC APPROVES TEN NEW KINDS OF NOVEL FOODS

On June 13, 2017, National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHFPC) issued the announcement on approval of safety assessment material review of ten new kinds of novel foods including Shea butter, etc. FoodMate summarized relevant information as follows:

List of ten kinds of novel foods

1. Shea butter (Sheanut oil, Shea oil)

Source: kernel of Butyrospermum parkii

Limited Applications: confectionary, ice cream, bakery, frying oil.

2. Zeaxanthin

Source: Tagetes erecta L.

Principal component: (3R, 3’R)-dihydroxy-β-carotene

CAS: 144-68-3

Limited Daily Intake: ≤4mg/day (expressed as (3R, 3’R)-dihydroxy-β-carotene)

Note: the usage scope excludes infants and young children food.

3. Borojo powder

Source: fruit of Borojo patinoi Cuatrec

Limited Daily Intake: ≤30g/day

Note: it is not suitable for consumption by infants and young children. The labels and instructions shall be indicated with unsuitable crowds.

4. Sialic acid

Structural formula:

Limited Daily Intake: ≤500 mg/day
Processing: fermented on food grade dextrose and corn pulp by E. coli strain SA-8

5. Cis-15-Tetracosenoic Acid

Source: rapeseed oil

Limited Daily Intake: ≤300mg/day

Limited Applications: edible oil, fat and emulsified fat product, solid beverage, dairy, candy, instant food.

Note: it is not suitable for consumption by infants and young children. The labels and instructions shall be indicated with unsuitable crowds.

6. Aqueous Extract of Seed of Broccoli

Source: seed of Brassica oleracea var. italica Plenck

Limited Daily Intake: ≤1.8g/day

Note: the usage scope excludes infants and young children food.

7. Rice bran fatty alcohol

Source: Rice bran

Principal components: octacosanol, triacontanol, dotriacontanol

Limited Daily Intake: ≤300mg/day

Note: it is not suitable for consumption by infants and young children, and pregnant women. The labels and instructions shall be indicated with unsuitable crowds.

8. γ-linolenic Acid Oil

Source: Cunninghamella echinulata (Thaxter) Thaxter

Processing: mycelium of C. echinulate Thaxter is produced through drying, extraction and refining.

Limited Daily Intake: ≤6g/day

9. Calcium β- hydroxy -β- methyl butyrate (CaHMB)

Structural formula:

Limited Daily Intake: ≤3g/day

Limited Applications: beverage, dairy, cocoa product, chocolate product, candy, bakery, sports nutrition food, formula food for special medical use.

Note: it is not suitable for consumption by infants and young children, children, pregnant and lactating women. The labels and instructions shall be indicated with unsuitable crowds and consumption limit.

10. Lithocarpus litseifolius folium (young leaf)

Source: Lithocarpus litseifolius (Hance) Chun

Processing: young leaf of L. litseifolius is processed through deactivation, rolling, drying.

Limited Daily Intake: ≤10g/day (as dry product)

Consumption instruction: brewing

Note: it is not suitable for consumption by infants and young children. The labels and instructions shall be indicated with unsuitable crowds.

Introduction of novel foods in China

Novel foods refer to the following items in China without traditional eating habits: (I) animals, plants and microorganisms; (II) components separated from animals, plants and microorganisms; (III) food components that have changed in their original structure; (D) other newly developed food raw materials.

For novel foods exported to China, “Administrative measures for safety review of novel foods” requires that except submitting the specified general materials, the evidentiary materials for allowing the products to be produced or sold in local country (area) issued by relevant departments and institutions of exporting country (area), evidentiary materials for production enterprises review or certification issued by relevant institutions and organizations in the country (area) where the production enterprise located shall be submitted.