FSA News Item, 26 November 2010

ADDITIVIES - New additives approved for use

New European rules on food additives allow a number of recently approved additives to be used in certain foods. The rules also permit new uses for existing additives. The European Commission Directive (2010/69/EU) on Food Additives other than Colours and Sweeteners came into force on 11 November 2010.

The new additives are:

• E 392 extracts of rosemary
• E 427 cassia gum
• E 961 neotame (as a flavour enhancer)
• E 1203 polyvinyl alcohol
• E 1521 polyethylene glycol

Although European member states will have until 31 March 2011 to transpose the legislation into national law, companies in the UK are able to benefit from the new rules in Directive 2010/69/EC straightaway.

The criteria for the purity of the newly approved additives listed in the new Directive 2010/69 have also been published in Directive 2010/67/EU (this amends the previous directive on purity criteria – 2008/84/EC). The provisions of Directive 2010/67 will also need to be transposed into national law by 31 March 2011. The implementing legislation will be circulated in due course.

Copies of the Directives can be see at:

• Commission Directive 2010/69/EU of 22 October 2010 amending the Annexes to European Parliament and Council Directive 95/2/EC on food additives other than colours and sweeteners (OJ L279, 23.10.2010, page 22)
• Commission Directive 2010/67/EU of 20 October 2010 amending Directive 2008/84/EC laying down specific purity criteria on food additives other than colours and sweeteners (OJ L277, 21.10.2010, page 17)