Europe: draft text on green tea extracts containing EGCG

The draft Commission Regulation (EU) amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 as regards green tea extract containing EGCG has been voted positively by the Member States in June 2022 and has been sent to the European Parliament for a 3-month period for scrutiny procedure.

Next step: The final text should be published in the Official Journal of the European Union in September ou October 2022.

This draft regulation will add Green tea extracts containing (-)- epigallocatechin-3-gallate (excluding aqueous green tea extracts containing (-)- epigallocatechin-3-gallate which after reconstitution in beverages have a composition comparable to traditional green tea infusions) :

  • in Part B of Annex III to Regulation (EC) 1925/2006 (under restrictions):
    Dose of EGCG < 800 mg / day (to be indicated on the label: content of (-)- epigallocatechin-3-gallate per portion of the food and maximum number of portions of the food for daily consumption). Mandatory warnings: warning not to consume a daily amount of 800 mg of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate or more. “Should not be consumed if you are consuming other products containing green tea on the same day”. “Should not be consumed by pregnant or lactating women and children below 18 years old”. “Should not be consumed on an empty stomach”.
  • and in Part C of Annex III to Regulation (EC) 1925/2006, i.e. under Union scrutiny (under scrutiny because of scientific uncertainty: the industry will have to submit additional scientific data demonstrating the safety of the substances for a possible new assessment by EFSA; and the Commission should take a decision within four years).

Concretely, it corresponds to:

  • a ban of green tea extracts containing a daily dose of EGCG greater than or equal to 800 mg/day
  • and for lower doses: placing under restrictions (warnings) and under Union scrutiny.