European Commission Announces New Additives Approved for Use

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).

29 Nov 2010 --- 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.