EFSA CEF Panel (EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids), 2013. Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 21, Revision 4 (FGE.21Rev4)

The Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids of the European Food Safety Authority was requested to evaluate 59 flavouring substances in the Flavouring Group Evaluation 21, Revision 4, using the Procedure in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1565/2000. This revision is made due to the inclusion of the assessment of new toxicity data on one supporting substance 5,6-dihydro-2,4,6-tris(2-methylpropyl)-4H-1,3,5-dithiazine [FL-no: 15.113], which is considered to be structurally related to the candidate substances 2-butyl-4-methyl(4H)pyrrolidino[1,2d]-1,3,5-dithiazine [FL-no: 15.042], dihydro-2,4,6-triethyl-1,3,5(4H)-dithiazine [FL-no: 15.054], 2,4-dimethyl(4H)pyrrolidino[1,2e]-1,3,5-dithiazine [FL-no: 15.055], 4,6-dimethyl-2-(1-methylethyl)dihydro-1,3,5-dithiazine [FL-no: 15.057], 2-isobutyldihydro-4,6-dimethyl-1,3,5-dithiazine [FL-no: 15.079] and ethyl thialdine [FL-no: 15.135].

Furthermore, new in vitro genotoxicity studies have become available on the supporting substance 2-acetyl-2-thiazoline [FL-no: 15.010], which is considered to be structurally related to and a supportive substance for 2-methyl-2-thiazoline [FL-no: 15.086]. Eighteen of the original 59 candidate substances [FL-no: 15.037, 15.042, 15.043, 15.064, 15.070, 15.072, 15.077, 15.088, 15.090, 15.091, 15.092, 15.094, 15.099, 15.106, 15.107, 15.114, 15.129 and 15.133], for which additional data were requested, are no longer supported by Industry for use as flavouring substances in Europe and will therefore not be considered any further.

Therefore, FGE.21Rev4 will only deal with 41 candidate substances. Two of the substances, 3-thiazolines, 2,4-dimethyl-3-thiazoline [FL-no: 15.060] and 2-isobutyl-3-thiazoline [FL-no: 15.119], were considered to have genotoxic potential. The remaining 39 substances were evaluated through a stepwise approach (the Procedure) that integrates information on structure-activity relationships, intake from current uses, toxicological threshold of concern, and available data on metabolism and toxicity.

The Panel concluded that 32 flavouring substances [FL-no: 15.038, 15.039, 15.044, 15.050, 15.051, 15.052, 15.054, 15.055, 15.057, 15.058, 15.061, 15.062, 15.063, 15.067, 15.068, 15.069, 15.071, 15.078, 15.079, 15.080, 15.082, 15.084, 15.085, 15.086, 15.087, 15.089, 15.098, 15.108, 15.115, 15.116, 15.118 and 15.135] do not give rise to safety concerns at their levels of dietary intake, estimated on the basis of the MSDI approach.

For the remaining seven candidate substances [FL-no: 15.040, 15.045, 15.074, 15.076, 15.093, 15.096 and 15.097] evaluated through the Procedure, no appropriate NOAEL was available and additional data are required. Besides the safety assessment of these flavouring substances, the specifications for the materials of commerce have also been considered.

Adequate specifications including complete purity criteria and identity for the materials of commerce have been provided for all 41 candidate substances