COMMISSIONRECOMMENDATIONof29July1997concerningthescientificaspectsandthepresentationofinformationnecessarytosupportapplicationsfortheplacingonthemarketofnovelfoodsandnovelfoodingredientsandthepreparationofinitialassessmentreportsunderRegulation(EC)No258/97oftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncil(TextwithEEArelevance)(97/618/EC)THECOMMISSIONOFTHEEUROPEANCOMMUNITIES,HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishingtheEuropeanCommunity,HavingregardtoRegulation(EC)No258/97oftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilof27January1997concerningnovelfoodsandnovelfoodingredients(1),andinparticularArticle4(4)thereof,Whereas,inordertoprotectpublichealth,itisnecessarythatnovelfoodsandnovelfoodingredientsaresubjecttoasinglesafetyassessmentthroughaCommunityprocedurebeforetheyareplacedonthemarketwithintheCommunity;Whereasrecommendationsconcerningthescientificaspectsoftheinformationnecessarytosupportanapplicationfortheplacingonthemarketofanovelfoodoranovelfoodingredientwillfacilitatethetaskofeconomicoperatorsinpreparingsuchanapplication;whereasrecommendationsconcerningthepresentationofsuchinformationandconcerningthepreparationofinitialassessmentreportsbythecompetentfoodassessmentbodiesoftheMemberStateswillfacilitatetheevaluationofsuchapplications;WhereastheScientificCommitteeforFoodhasmaderecommendationsontheinformationnecessarytosupportsuchapplications,thepresentationofthatinformationandthepreparationofinitialassessmentreportsonthoseapplications;Whereasexperienceintheassessmentofnovelfoodsandnovelfoodingredientsisatpresentlimited;whereasthereforeanyrecommendationsinthisareamustbekeptunderconstantreviewtotakeaccountofnewscientificinformationandtheworkoftherelevantinternationalorganizations;WhereastheMemberStateshavebeenconsultedonthisRecommendationwithintheframeworkoftheStandingCommitteeforFoodstuffs,HEREBYRECOMMENDSTHAT:1.Whenpreparingapplicationsfortheplacingonthemarketofnovelfoodsandnovelfoodingredients,economicoperatorsshouldfollowtherecommendationsconcerningthescientificaspects