SCHEDULE 2Amendments to Annex to Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 concerning the specification for E 960a steviol glycosides from Stevia (formerly E 960 steviol glycosides) and for the addition of a specification for E 960c rebaudioside M produced via enzyme modification of steviol glycosides from Stevia

3

In the appropriate place, insert the following entry—

E 960c REBAUDIOSIDE M PRODUCED VIA ENZYME MODIFICATION OF STEVIOL GLYCOSIDES FROM STEVIA

Synonyms

Definition

Rebaudioside M is a steviol glycoside composed predominantly of rebaudioside M with minor amounts of other steviol glycosides such as rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside I, and stevioside.

Rebaudioside M is obtained via enzymatic bioconversion of purified steviol glycoside leaf extracts (95% steviol glycosides) of the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant using UDP-glucosyltransferase and sucrose synthase enzymes produced by the genetically modified yeasts K. phaffi (formerly known as Pichia pastoris) UGT-a and K. phaffi UGT-b that facilitate the transfer of glucose from sucrose and UDP-glucose to steviol glycosides via glycosidic bonds.

After removal of the enzymes by solid-liquid separation and heat treatment, the purification involves concentration of the rebaudioside M by resin adsorption, followed by recrystallisation of rebaudioside M resulting in a final product containing not less than 95% of rebaudioside M. Viable cells or the DNA of the yeasts K. phaffi UGT-a or K. phaffi UGT-b must not be detected in the food additive.

Chemical name

Rebaudioside M: 13-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]kaur-16-en-18-oic acid, 2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester

Molecular formula

Trivial name

Formula

Conversion factor

Rebaudioside M

C56 H90 O33

0.25

Molecular weight and CAS number

Trivial name

CAS Number

Molecular weight (g/mol)

Rebaudioside M

1220616-44-3

1291.29

Assay

Not less than 95% rebaudioside M on the dried basis

Description

White to light yellow powder, approximately between 200 and 350 times sweeter than sucrose (at 5% sucrose equivalency)

Identification

Solubility

Freely soluble to slightly soluble in water

pH

Between 4.5 and 7.0 (1 in 100 solution)

Purity

Total ash

Not more than 1%

Loss on drying

Not more than 6% (105°C, 2h)

Residual solvent

Not more than 5000 mg/kg ethanol

Arsenic

Not more than 0.015 mg/kg

Lead

Not more than 0.2 mg/kg

Cadmium

Not more than 0.015 mg/kg

Mercury

Not more than 0.07 mg/kg

Residual protein

Not more than 5 mg/kg

Particle size

Not less than 74 μm (using a mesh #200 sieve with a particle size limit of 74 μm)