Administrative guidance for the preparation of applications on food improvement agents (food enzymes, food additives and food flavourings)

This document provides guidance to applicants submitting applications on food enzymes, food additives or food flavourings, which are to be evaluated by EFSA. It describes the administrative requirements for the preparation and online submission of the dossier to support an application for a new authorisation or for the modification of an existing authorisation of food enzymes, food additives or food flavourings for applications submitted to the European Commission as of 27 March 2021. The Transparency Regulation amended the General Food Law by introducing new provisions in the pre‐submission phase and in the application procedure: general pre‐submission advice, notification of information related to studies commissioned or carried out to support an application, public disclosure of non‐confidential version of all information submitted in support of the application and related confidentiality decision‐making process, public consultation on submitted applications. These new requirements, as implemented by the Practical Arrangements laid down by EFSA, are reflected in this guidance. The guidance describes the procedure and the associated timelines for handling applications on food enzymes, food additives and food flavourings, the different possibilities to interact with EFSA and the support initiatives available from the preparation of the application (pre‐submission phase) to the adoption and publication of EFSA's scientific opinion.