Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

In accordance with Article 6 of the Novel Foods Regulation[1], only novel foods authorised and included in the Union list may be placed on the market within the EU as such, or used in or on foods, in accordance with the conditions of use, specifications and labelling requirements specified therein.

‘Decorticated grains of fonio’ is authorised as a traditional food from a third country by Regulation (EU) 2018/2016[2], to be consumed as such or as a food ingredient by the general population. This authorisation has been granted as no duly reasoned safety objections were submitted to the Commission. Moreover, the European Food Safety Authority in its technical report[3] refers to the grains of fonio either as such (e.g. couscous) or ground (e.g. flour) as a food ingredient in bread, snacks or cookies.

Only novel foods authorised and included in the Union list[4] may be placed on the market within the EU. In line with the entry for ‘decorticated grains of fonio’ in the Union list, all foodstuffs containing it should, for the concerned novel food, use on the label the designation ‘decorticated fonio (Digitaria exilis) grains’. This applies regardless of whether the fonio grains are placed on the market as such or used as ingredients (e.g. ground) in foods. A similar example can be observed on the entry of the Union list of the novel food ‘Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica)’.

This labelling requirement is without prejudice to the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1169/2011[5] regarding the information that foods placed on the EU market must carry in order to accurately inform consumers.

• [1] Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on novel foods, amending Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1852/2001. OJ L 327, 11.12.2015, p. 1.
• [2] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2016 of 18 December 2018 authorising the placing on the market of decorticated grains of Digitaria exilis as a traditional food from a third country under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470. OJ L 323, 19.12.2018, p. 1.
• [3] EFSA Supporting publication 2018:EN-1443.
• [4] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 of 20 December 2017 establishing the Union list of novel foods in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council on novel foods (OJ L 351, 30.12.2017, p. 72).
• [5] Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, amending Regulations (EC) No 1924/2006 and (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Commission Directive 87/250/EEC, Council Directive 90/496/EEC, Commission Directive 1999/10/EC, Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Directives 2002/67/EC and 2008/5/EC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 608/2004. OJ L 304, 22.11.2011, p. 18.