Sunflower oil is an active substance for which, in accordance with Article 23(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, the European Commission received an application from Institut Technique de l’Agriculture Biologique (ITAB) for approval as a ‘basic substance’. Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 introduced the new category of ‘basic substances’, which are described, among others, as active substances, not predominantly used as plant protection products but which may be of value for plant protection and for which the economic interest in applying for approval may be limited. Article 23 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 lays down specific provisions for consideration of applications for approval of basic substances.
In March 2013, the European Commission requested the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to provide scientific assistance with respect to the evaluation of applications received by the European Commission concerning basic substances. By a further specific request, received from the European Commission on 4 March 2016, EFSA was asked to organise a consultation on the basic substance application for sunflower oil, to consult the applicant on the comments received, and to deliver its scientific views on the specific points raised in the format of a reporting table within three months of receipt of the specific request.
A consultation on the basic substance application for sunflower oil, organised by EFSA, was conducted with Member States via a written procedure in September – November 2015. Subsequently, EFSA also provided comments and the applicant was invited to address all the comments received in the format of a reporting table and to provide an application update as appropriate, within a period of 30 days.
The current report summarises the outcome of the consultation process organised by EFSA on the basic substance application for sunflower oil and presents EFSA’s scientific views on the individual comments received in the format of a reporting table.
