
Article 1 
Synthetic zeaxanthin as specified in the Annex may be placed on the market in the Union as a novel food ingredient in food supplements at the maximum intake recommended by the manufacturer of up to 2 mg per day.
Article 2 
The designation of synthetic zeaxanthin authorised by this Decision on the labelling of the foodstuffs containing it shall be ‘synthetic zeaxanthin’.
Article 3 
This Decision is addressed to DSM Nutritional Products, Alexander Fleminglaan 1, 2613 AX Delft, The Netherlands.
Done at Brussels, 22 January 2013.
For the Commission
Tonio BORG
Member of the Commission
ANNEX

DefinitionZeaxanthin is a naturally occurring xanthophyll pigment, it is an oxygenated carotenoid. Synthetic zeaxanthin is produced by a multi-step chemical synthesis from smaller molecules.
Synthetic zeaxanthin is presented either as a spray-dried powder of gelatin or starch base (‘beadlets’) with added α-tocopherol and ascorbyl palmitate or as a corn oil suspension with added α-tocopherolDescription:Orange-red crystalline powder with little or no odourChemical formula:C40H56O2Structural formula:CAS No:144-68-3Molecular weight:568,9 daltonsPhysical-chemical properties of synthetic zeaxanthin
Loss on drying less than 0,2 %
All-trans zeaxanthin more than 96 %
Cis-zeaxanthin less than 2 %
Other carotenoids less than 1,5 %
Triphenylphosphine oxid(CAS No 791-28-6) less than 50 mg/kg
