Safety of low‐substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose (L‐HPC) to be used as a food additive in food supplements in tablet form

Low‐substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose (L‐HPC) is a low‐substituted poly(hydroxypropyl) ether of cellulose. L‐HPC is proposed for use as a food additive in food supplements in solid form (tablet), with a maximum use level of 20,000 mg/kg and a typical use level of 10,000 mg/kg. Exposure estimates to L‐HPC from its proposed use were calculated for both typical and maximum use levels. Due to the close chemical relationship between L‐HPC and other celluloses recently re‐evaluated by EFSA, the Panel decided to read‐across the biological data already evaluated in the context of the re‐evaluation programme. The Panel concluded that there was no safety concern from the proposed use and use levels of L‐HPC.