1.The recipient Member State shall conclude on the novel food status of a food within 4 months from the date on which it decided on the validity of the consultation request.
2.Where the recipient Member State identifies that it does not have sufficient evidence to decide on the novel food status of a food, it may request the food business operator to provide additional information. The period of that request shall be determined together with the food business operator.
The recipient Member State may consult the other Member States and the Commission.
3.Without prejudice to paragraph 4, a request for additional information referred to in paragraph 2 shall not extend the time period referred to in paragraph 1.
4.In duly justified cases, the recipient Member State may extend the time period referred to in paragraph 1 by a maximum of 4 months. The recipient Member State shall inform the food business operator, the other Member States and the Commission of their decision and shall provide justification.
5.On concluding on the novel food status of a food, the recipient Member State shall without delay notify the food business operator, the other Member States and the Commission of the decision and shall provide justification in accordance with Article 7 of this Regulation.