The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that the food enzyme containing cellulase, endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanase and endo-1,4-β-xylanase activities from the non-genetically modified Trichoderma reesei strain AR-256 does not pose safety concerns under revised intended conditions of use, including an extension to allow the use of grapes as raw material in the production of distilled alcoholic beverages. The opinion, adopted on 24 June 2026 and published on 9 July 2026, updates the dietary exposure estimate to up to 4.026 mg TOS/kg body weight per day for European populations, yielding a margin of exposure of at least 233 based on the previously reported no observed adverse effect level of 939 mg TOS/kg bw per day.
The assessment, carried out by the EFSA Panel on Food Enzymes (FEZ), follows a request from the European Commission submitted on 20 January 2025 by AB Enzymes GmbH for an extension of the conditions of use. The food enzyme had previously been evaluated in November 2022 for use in seven food manufacturing processes, and its intended uses were updated in December 2023 to include two additional processes. The current evaluation revises the exposure assessment to account for the extension of raw materials in the production of distilled alcoholic beverages to include grapes. The enzyme is added to fruits and vegetables during peeling and crushing, and to the mash before fermentation and distillation; the enzyme–Total Organic Solids (TOS) are removed by distillation in the final product. The Panel concluded that the enzyme is inactivated in most of the listed food manufacturing processes.
The revised exposure estimate was derived for the six food manufacturing processes where the food enzyme–TOS are not removed (the enzyme is removed in three processes). The margin of exposure of at least 233 is considered sufficient by the Panel, which concluded that the food enzyme does not give rise to safety concerns under the revised intended conditions of use. The opinion is based on data submitted by the applicant, including spontaneous data provided on 25 November 2025, and follows EFSA's guidance on transparency and relevant scientific guidance documents. A public consultation was held from 18 November to 9 December 2025, but no comments were received.